From TikTok fame to potential pop icon, Addison Rae’s journey of rediscovery through music is certainly a tale to tell.
The world has suddenly taken notice of yet another up-and-coming musician – Addison Rae. Delivering a sensational debut entitled “Addison”, the apple truly does not fall far from her hit single “Diet Pepsi”, released earlier this year. Modelled after her pop inspirations, Lana Del Rey and Britney Spears, one truly finds their spirit sprinkled in tracks like “Summer Forever” and “Money is Everything”, respectively. But how did the once ‘flop’ influencer flip the public opinion on her art, going so far as being called the ‘Pop-girl of Summer 2025’?
“Obsessed” and “He’s All That”: A Skewed Beginning
Following her TikTok fame, she began venturing into acting and singing. However, her debut works on both ends were ill-received, to say the least. Under the video for her single ‘Obsessed’, one viewer wrote, “Let’s just appreciate her guts to leave the comments section ON for this one.” Yikes.
Following her disappointing approach to what was to be her initial debut album, Addison scrapped the idea in favour of her existing pursuits. Later, in 2023, an EP entitled “AR”, with a single and 4 additional tracks, was officially released on Spotify; one that features Charli xcx.
Enter the Mentor: Charli xcx
2024 was most notably known for the neon-green, summer cult-classic “BRAT” by Charli xcx. Alongside obvious hits like “360” and “Apple”, Charlie’s album garnered further attention through her subsequent collaborations with Troye Sivan, Billie Eilish, Lorde, and Addison. Their unique friendship translated effortlessly into their music and Rae once again caught the public’s eye – this time, in a good way.
Her notorious scream in her feature “Von Dutch” obtained mass approval, with many praising her stylistic choices. Charli and Addison’s pop-moment did not end merely at that, as they were spotted together many times in the former’s tour stops, often collaborating on-stage.
Charli’s known influence on Addison’s music was also revealed in a recent interview with Amelia Dimoldenberg, where she shared that “Diet Pepsi” was meant to be titled “Back Seat”, and it was indeed Charli’s idea to rename it. To this, Addison claimed, “She’s a big genius”.
A Debut and a Re-brand to Remember
Recently, Addison made a public declaration of dropping her last name, Rae, and just going by her first name. This decision is the popstar’s newfound claim to mark her rebirth from the image she once harnessed. In this sense, “Addison” is most certainly a testament on her end, calling all her prior critics to take a look at her renewed outlook on music.
The artist recently announced a North American tour, cementing her earnestness in this domain. The 33-minute-long album includes tracks that orient the listener not only towards what the artist wishes, but also inspire one to align oneself with their beliefs. In the new pop star’s case, it is a refreshing approach with her art and her audience. What do you think about Addison’s artistic journey?
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