Addison Rae comes into her own on self-titled debut album
TikToker Addison Rae wants you to take her seriously as a musician.
In a move done by numerous pop stars before her, she wants to simply be known as “Addison” from now on. The TikTok star-turned-singer released her debut album, “Addison”, on Friday June 6th through Columbia Records.
A full length album has been a long time coming for Addison, who’s first foray into pop music wasn’t smooth sailing (she released her debut single, “Obsessed”, in 2021 through Sandlot Records. The single was widely panned).
After “Obsessed”, Addison admitted to “Rolling Stone” in January 2025, “Even with the buzz [from the “Obsessed” single], few record labels were clamoring to sign an influencer whose initial attempt at a music career flopped so spectacularly. There were a lot of people that could not be less interested”. She was definitely in need of a popstar reboot. Her saving grace arrived in the form of - per “Rolling Stone” - “Columbia Records CEO Ron Perry …Perry was impressed [with Addison’s vision] and ended up signing Rae in late 2023”.
Oh, and working with Charli XCX is definitely a flex. Charli appeared on Addison’s track “2 Die 4” and the TikToker returned the favor by appearing on a remix of Charli’s 2024 single, “Von Dutch”.
The album arrives after five previously-released singles: the Lana-esq. “Diet Pepsi”, the hypnotic “Aquamarine”, the heady “High Fashion”, the 90s-sounding “Headphones On” and the sassy spitfire “Fame Is A Gun”. Produced by Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser, Addison’s debut album is the perfect summer soundtrack. Harkening back to the late 90s /early aughts of shiny pop stars and clean cut boy bands, “Addison” opens with the star suggestively encouraging listeners to, “Take a bite of the big apple” on the opening track, “New York”.
“Black car / pick me up from the airport. Drop my bags at The Bowery Hotel / Next stop, to the club, I’m a dance wh*** / Kick drum, chew gum” she continues in the opener. Addison just wants to have a good time. Who can blame her?
On “Money Is Everything”, Addison exclaims, “Money loves me / Ah (I’m the richest girl in the world)”. She doesn’t need a man to provide for her; she has her own money. “In The Rain” definitely reminds me of “4 Minutes” by Madonna and Justin Timberlake (not to mention it wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Britney’s 2003 “In The Zone” album).
Speaking of Britney, Addison definitely channels Spears throughout, especially when her airy voice sings, “Stayin' up all night long / Singin' our favorite songs / Makin' out in the car / Doin' shots at the bar / We're naked at the beach / Barefoot on the street / Background on my phone /Never felt less alone” on “Summer Forever”. “Times Like These” easily recall Mandy Moore’s “Candy” days.
With songs about love, desire, confidence, sex and self-love, Addison has definitely found her footing in today’s pop world with this collection of lush tracks built on millennial nostalgia.
A perfect reintroduction.