As someone who has been (embarrassingly) chronically online since the ripe age of 12, Addison Rae’s influence on pop culture has always been apparent to me, be it positively or negatively. (See: “Hi, drated!”) However, one thing I never saw coming was her foray into pop music — not to mention how successful it has been. Even self-proclaimed skeptics of mainstream TikTokers like myself have found themselves surprisingly on board with Rae’s latest ventures. In my opinion, all four of her recent singles have helped carve out a unique identity for her as a young artist on the rise and, even more importantly, helped breathe fresh life into a monotonous landscape of pop music.
Rae released her debut single “Obsessed” in 2021 to an audience that dismissed her attempt to make it in music as a shallow cash grab, especially at a time when several TikTok influencers were scrambling to make a permanent mark beyond the app. Still, despite not even making it on the Billboard Hot 100, “Obsessed” promised potential for the TikTok star.
While Rae’s shift from classic girl-next-door to avant-garde luxe might seem sudden to the public eye, her evolution has actually been in motion for quite some time. In 2023, almost a year and a half before the release of her hit single "Diet Pepsi," Rae wiped her social media slate clean — a bold move for someone who had racked up over 80 million followers on both platforms. Her next posts were shrouded in a kind of mystery that felt uncharacteristic for someone who had once shared every corner of her life online. Through unsaturated, risqué photos, Rae slowly began reshaping her image. She also started surrounding herself with artists who, in hindsight, had a major influence on her music. But it was her now-iconic scream being featured on “Von dutch” by Charli XCX that cemented her rebrand. Rae was messy, complicated and ready to dive back into the pop music industry with an unexpected splash.
Rae’s singles since her rebrand — “Diet Pepsi,” “Aquamarine,” “High Fashion” and most recently “Headphones On” — are nostalgic, whimsical and sultry. She has masterfully combined the innocent, bubblegum-pop image of a young Britney Spears and the alluring weirdness of Arca and Charli XCX to make her unique mark on the pop industry. What sets Rae apart, though, is how unapologetically she leans into both sides: One moment she’s cooing sweetly over a glossy synth beat, and the next she’s diving headfirst into glitchy chaos without a second thought. In an era where so many pop artists seem more focused on crafting 30-second hooks for TikTok virality, Rae’s music stands out, likely due to the offbeat influences she’s intentionally surrounded herself with. It’s chaotic, it’s camp and somehow, it just works.
“Headphones On” is an indisputable earworm and uniquely blends R&B and hyperpop with an addictive aesthetic of bright colors, sequins and sparkles reminiscent of the early 2000s “party girl aesthetic.” It’s nonchalant but intentional, fresh but nostalgic, mysterious yet personal. Especially with intimate, vulnerable lyrics such as “Wish my mom and dad could have been in love / Guess some things weren’t meant to last forever,” and “I compare my life to the new it girl / Jealousy’s a rip tide, it pulls me under,” Rae characterizes herself as someone who her listeners can relate to, despite her recent shift towards a mysterious musical persona.
At the end of the day, Rae’s foray into pop feels both unexpected and strangely natural — a chaotic, glittery extension of the persona she’s been quietly shaping for years. Personally, I’m excited to see if this rebrand is authentic to Rae’s true self or simply her going with the flow of recently popularized “brat summer” aesthetics. Either way, if you’re looking for a fresh take on pop music, put your “Headphones On” and give an old star a new listen!
