Addison Rae’s rise to primary pop lady is equal components grasp class and trendy spectacle. Having began on TikTok, turning into one of many platform’s high customers recognized for choreographing transient dances to catchy hits, Rae all the time had her sights set on a much bigger stage — actually.
Previously yr, she’s carried out onstage with Charli xcx and Troye Sivan on the New York cease of their Sweat Tour, and at Coachella this previous April, Rae carried out once more with Charli but in addition Arca, who remixed Rae’s “Aquamarine” right into a observe titled “Arcamarine” months prior. In the course of the reside efficiency, Rae unveiled her debut album’s launch date, writing “June 6” on her underwear.
Now – almost one yr after the discharge of her hit single “Food regimen Pepsi” — June 6 has come and the second is Rae’s alone to delight in. Throughout her debut album’s 12 tracks, there are two interludes and 0 options; all songs had been co-written by Rae, alongside collaborators Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjärd.
And whereas for a lot of this second has felt like a very long time coming for the fast-rising, all the time fascinating pop artist, it could simply as quickly come to an finish; as Rae’s web site states below every out there merchandise (together with a CD, black, mild blue and tangerine vinyl and a sold-out field set) Addison is “the primary and final album by Addison Rae.”
If the album is a one-and-done, it’s instantly iconic. An accomplishment surrounded by whispers of “she did that.” Or, it might be nothing greater than a sign that the Addison Rae the Web has come to know is just shifting earlier than our eyes. Rae even stated in her ELLE cowl story that she’s going by “simply Addison now.”
No matter comes subsequent for the artist, she will all the time look again on Addison as a challenge that’s completely her — and maybe way more trustworthy and weak than even she anticipated to be. In consequence, Rae’s debut proves her to be certainly one of one amongst pop’s present crew. So whether or not or not there’s extra to come back, simply put your “Headphones On” and hit repeat – and skim beneath for Billboard’s rating of all 12 tracks.
-
“Misplaced & Discovered Interlude”
The opening notes on Addison’s first interlude are distinctly just like these of “Aquamarine,” the observe instantly earlier than it, solely the sun-kissed, effervescent power of the latter is changed by moody, languid synths. Rae’s repeated sentiment of “I misplaced myself and located myself once more” echoes off the partitions of the manufacturing, quickly giving solution to her booming, layered chanting. The interlude proves that the pop star is unafraid to get introspective — even when just for a short second.
-
“Life’s No Enjoyable Interlude”
“Life’s no enjoyable by clear waters,” a siren-like voice echoes and repeats over a string part, (plucking a lyric straight from “Headphones On”). Although it arrives because the second-to-last observe on the album, it serves as a reminder of the challenge’s complete motto: this ought to be enjoyable. Isn’t that the purpose? Addison acts as one large reminder that the plot isn’t perfection — as a result of how boring would that be?
-
“Summer time Ceaselessly”
It seems like a given to incorporate a observe known as “Summer time Ceaselessly” on an album arriving on the high of June, simply weeks earlier than the official first day of the season. Rae’s breezy vocals and the music’s minimal but immersive manufacturing are good companions for sheer drapes billowing within the wind on a balcony door left open — a transparent indicator of a summer time day properly spent. (Plus, if pitched down, this might simply as simply be a music by Lana Del Rey, queen of summertime disappointment.)
-
“Excessive Trend”
“Have you ever ever dreamt of being seen?/ Not by somebody, extra like in {a magazine},” Rae asks to open the album’s third single, “Excessive Trend.” She’s seemingly intent on doing no matter it takes to tug off a glance worthy sufficient, rejecting passing thrills — medication and low cost love — in its pursuit. It’s not her most complex music on the album, however who says a pop hit can’t dangle its hat on thumping bass and a deep love for couture? Not Addison Rae, that’s for rattling certain.
-
“In The Rain”
One of many extra subdued, ethereal songs on the album (alongside “Summer time Ceaselessly” and “Occasions Like These”), “Within the Rain” presents a glimpse into the Addison behind the layers of tulle on her album cowl. “Younger dumb and cute nothing to lose/ And now the previous is somebody that I’ve to reply for/I acquired an entire new viewpoint,” she sings on the high of the observe, earlier than concluding: “Misunderstood however I’m not gonna sweat it.” Whereas the writing stands out as a few of Rae’s most weak, the music is tucked in between similar-sounding “Summer time Ceaselessly” and the higher-energy “Fame Is A Gun” — a sensible transfer for a music about being inconspicuous.
-
“Occasions Like These”
“Occasions Like These” is just like the angrier, by some means extra trustworthy sister to “Within the Rain” — not evidenced in any respect by the way it sounds, however solely by what Rae says. It’s virtually as if crying within the rain (see: “Within the Rain”) didn’t remedy something (surprising) and some songs later Rae couldn’t assist however revisit the identical wounds. “Am I too younger to be this mad/ Am I too outdated responsible my dad,” she wonders aloud. Contemplate this music a warning, because it’s Rae’s most tender tracks that hit hardest.
-
“Cash Is All the things”
Maybe extra so than anyplace else on Addison, “Cash Is All the things” calls again on what made 2023 EP AR such a cult traditional amongst her core fan base: pure, unadulterated bubblegum-pop enjoyable. She’s drawing comparisons to Marilyn Monroe — referring to the late icon by her start title, after all — requesting Madonna on the DJ sales space and fantasizing about an ideal night time out with the pop girlies, all on high of a bouncy beat that’s as candy as sweet. And of all of the quotable one-liners from Rae on the album, of which they run aplenty, her outro shriek of “Cash loves me!” simply might take the cake.
-
“New York”
The hustle and bustle of New York Metropolis isn’t for everybody, however those that get it, properly, they only get it. On Addison’s opener, Rae provides to the canon of affection letters to the Massive Apple with a observe primed for the dance ground. She’s shifting at a tempo to make any tried-and-true New Yorker proud, hardly stopping to drop her luggage off on the Bowery Resort earlier than heading straight to the membership. It’s an apropos tone-setter for the remainder of the album: Don’t get too snug and don’t get too complacent as a result of very similar to the town itself, she’s all the time going to maintain you in your toes.
-
“AQUAMARINE”
When “Aquamarine” arrived, it felt virtually apparent that that is what an Addison Rae album would sound like: glittering, assured and dance-floor prepared. However now, when heard within the context of the album itself, a music like “Aquamarine” is definitely an outlier. “I’m not hiding, anymore,” sings Rae. “I’m free.” And whereas it’s not the one time Rae sings of feeling free on Addison, (she does so on “New York” as properly), it’s removed from the theme of the album; a lot of Addison is a couple of time when she felt fairly the alternative, however made the perfect of it anyway on her street to liberation.
-
“Fame Is A Gun”
It’s deeply admirable how constant Rae is about her proclivity towards fame all through your complete album. “Nothing makes me really feel pretty much as good as being cherished by you,” she sings in certainly one of her most trustworthy moments throughout a short lull within the observe’s tempo. She lets the highlight steer her (“Inform me who I’m”); implores it for its lustrous shine (“Once you disgrace me, it makes me need it extra”); and eliminates any doubt about her proper to exist inside it (“There’s no thriller/I’m gonna make it, gonna go down in historical past”). If all of the world’s a stage, Rae is stopping nothing in need of standing entrance and heart.
-
“Headphones On”
Ending her debut album with the already-released and extensively cherished “Headphones On” is pure brilliance. Because the music and music video clarify, “Headphones On” is an ode to music as an escape — arguably one of the crucial relatable sentiments of all. Closing Addison — an album that’s so subtly steeped in numerous traumas — with a music about accepting the ache proves that Rae isn’t solely an artist with a imaginative and prescient, however an artist who’s extra self conscious than she will get credit score for. “Headphones On” even has self-referential traces like “life’s no enjoyable by clear waters,” a sentence that will get its personal interlude, or “absorbing the rain,” a nod to “Within the Rain” — and all of it factors to the identical factor. Addison Rae is aware of precisely what she’s doing. She’s been listening fastidiously, and now, it’s the listener’s flip to do the identical.
-
“Food regimen Pepsi”
9 months later and “Food regimen Pepsi” remains to be simply as refreshing as ever. From the very starting, it has all the time felt just like the form of music that demonstrates how properly Rae has her finger on the heart beat of pop as we speak. It showcases her potential to craft a punchy hook able to wrap round your mind (and your coronary heart) for days on finish. It winks on the listener simply sufficient to know Rae is in on the bit, however not so self-indulgent that it feels corny or warrants a watch roll. It proves she is clearly able to crafting a radio-ready earworm, however the remainder of Addison proves the nuance in her artistry, even when followers would fortunately take a dozen mainstream fastballs. With “Food regimen Pepsi” effervescent again to the forefront due to the arrival of Addison, don’t count on it to fizzle any time quickly.