It was easy to dismiss Addison Rae when her first single, “Obsessed”, came out in 2021. Although hit-making producer Benny Blanco was attached to the project, it seemed more like an attempt to become TikTok’s “hit of the week” than an actual artistic statement. And when it failed, it appeared to validate what many people have believed: that a TikTok “celebrity” could never be a true force in the music industry.
However, now Rae’s debut album, Addison, released just four years later, is being compared to Madonna, Björk, and Portishead, and with good reason due to its odd and alluring sound.
This change wasn’t a coincidence but a positive outcome as a result of precise, well-crafted collaborations, reinvention, and intentionality.
The Making of a Pop Cipher
Addison Rae, who was born Addison Rae Easterling in 2000, was raised in Louisiana and began dancing competitively at the age of six. While attending Louisiana State University, she joined TikTok in 2019 and quickly rose to fame on the app through various lip-syncing and dance videos, now making her the 6th most followed person on the platform with over 85 million followers.
However, her attempt to become a pop star was not as successful until she gave up trying so hard to prove that she could sing and began creating a creative universe instead.
One of the greatest contributing factors to Addison’s reinvention as an artist was her 2023 collaboration with Charli XCX on “2 die 4,” which established her enough to make her viral single, “Diet Pepsi,” blow up, with many loving how Addison’s lyrics touch on her reality of money, fame, and superficiality while flirting with different clichés and taboos.
The Sound of “Strangeness“
Many critics have praised Addison, describing her album as “remarkably cohesive,” “bold,” and “expressive,” with many crediting that to the “strangeness of her sound.” On the surface, Rae’s songs can sound generic and not sonically astounding. However, her voice is not the focus but rather a part of a sonic formula based on aesthetics, ambiance, and rhythm, a true testament that she understands her Gen Z audience, who are more impressed by the feelings music evokes rather than straight vocal talent.
Why Addison Rae’s Sound Actually Works
While many artists like Miley Cyrus have criticized pop as disposable, Addison presents a stronger argument that pop music can be great without being conceited. Addison’s journey from influencer to pop star was more about understanding the moment than music alone. She presents authenticity as play, pastiche, and aesthetic pleasure, redefining what “good pop” can be and demonstrating that TikTok stars can produce quality music that resonates with audiences.