Pop at its most transformative...
18 · 04 · 2025
There remains an ongoing sense of disbelief regarding Addison Rae. This may stem from her emergence as a social media influencer on TikTok, but the central dialogue surrounding pop culture has been surprisingly resistant to her appeal since she ventured into music.
Gradually, though, that barrier has been dismantled. The remarkable success of ‘Diet Pepsi’ demonstrated just how vast Addison Rae’s audience truly is – by any standard, she’s massive. The subsequent release, ‘Aquamarine,’ was undeniably stylish, complementing its Parisian-themed video. A collaboration with key experimental producer Arca at Coachella – appropriately named Arcamarine – provided an impressive endorsement and showed that Addison Rae was determined to navigate this journey on her own terms.
Even with that backdrop, the new single ‘Headphones On’ stands out. It evokes the essence of Madonna at the dawn of the 90s, which is hardly a negative – with its breathy vocals, dance-pop structure, and striking lyrics, it embodies several commendable elements.
In the end, this is pop at its most carefree and transformative – music created for enjoyment, its mix of light and shadow suggests endless possibilities. Will pop deliver a more poignant line than “need a cigarette to make me feel better” in 2025? Only time will tell.
Produced in collaboration with Luka Kloser and Elvira Anderfjärd, there’s a sense that Addison Rae is carving out her own identity. While she lacks the chaos of Charli or the exaggerated sensuality of Sabrina, ‘Headphones On’ showcases a distinct talent for world-building that is uniquely hers.
Slowly but surely, Addison Rae is chipping away at the layer of skepticism that some have imposed on her music; effortlessly chic, ‘Headphones On’ should prove to be the turning point, the pivotal moment. From this point onward, it’s indisputable: she’s a pop star.
8/10
Words: Robin Murray
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There remains a persistent feeling of disbelief regarding Addison Rae. This could be attributed to her ascent as a social media influencer on TikTok, but the essence