Addison: Pop Diva of Our Generation

Addison Rae now rebranded simply as Addison has officially cemented her place as the pop diva of our generation Most people first caught wind of her music career after her viral hit diet pepsi but the real ones remember her 2023 TikTok breakout 2 die 4 featuring Charli XCX a cult favorite that hinted at what was to come. 

Addison originally from Louisiana rose to fame during COVID with dance videos and viral moments from her time in the infamous Hype House Sure she received a ton of backlash over the years for being cringey but she has always stayed loyal to her brand and unapologetically herself. And now she has pulled off what I consider one of the most successful rebrands of our generation.

It started slowly with her unexpected friendship with Kourtney Kardashian and cameos on The Kardashians Then came her close creative bond with Charli XCX which boosted her credibility in the pop space especially after Charli’s 2024 breakout with brat Addison made a shift from TikTok star to full blown pop girl But not in a cookie cutter way she brings a rawness and edge that a lot of pop music has been missing.

Her debut self titled album Addison dropped on June 6 2025 through Columbia Records after months of anticipation following the viral success of Diet Pepsi, which now has 400 million streams on Spotify. Tracks like Aquamarine and Headphones On have roughly  59 million and 50 million. 

Of course we all love the big hits so I will not go into how catchy and fresh they are Instead I want to highlight a few underrated gems from the album that deserve more love.

Fame Is a GunThis one is already gaining traction but it still feels underrated It starts off with a muted synth and soft vocals building perfectly into a full beat by the second verse The pacing and minimal production give the lyrics space to breathe but then the chorus hits and surprises you in the best way There is this little twinkle sound at the end of the chorus that is such a small detail but it ties everything together It is clean tight and unexpected in a way that makes you keep coming back. 

In the RainBesides the singles this is hands down my favorite song on the album It only has 6 million streams which is criminal The beat is haunting and the lyrics “misunderstood but I’m not gonna sweat it” feel like the most authentic version of Addison yet It is like she is acknowledging the hate and owning it leaning into what people once mocked her for There is a raw vulnerability in her voice that reminds me a bit of Lana Del Rey And the chorus It sounds exactly like what crying in the rain feels like The reverb the echo the layered harmonies it is like a cinematic moment in real time You can literally picture her dancing through a downpour in slow motion. 

New YorkThis one is for the electronic music lovers It has a breakbeat rhythm that makes you want to put on your headphones and strut down the street like you are in your own music video The lyrics are repetitive and minimal but somehow super powerful This track is all about vibe over narrative and Addison nails it She captures that feeling of invincibility you get walking through a city alone with a great song playing in your ears.

Now I know some of the lyrics are objectively cringey I mean lines like “but when it comes to shoes I’ll be your slut” in High Fashion or” need a cigarette to make me feel better” in diet pepsi

After listening to Addison’s album, I realized it’s important to do more research to really understand an artist’s vision. So I watched her interview with Zane Lowe. Something she said really stuck with me. She talked about how if the album doesn’t take off right away, that’s okay because true art takes time to be appreciated. It will grow with you. That mindset really stuck with me. It shows how true she is to herself and her vision. She is not chasing trends or quick hits. She is making something she believes in and trusting that the right people will connect with it in time. I think that is such a valuable way to look at creating anything.

Another reason this album stands out It was created entirely by women Produced by Luka Kloser and ELVIRA with Addison co writing every track the album came together between Los Angeles New York City and Sweden In an interview with VarietyAddison said “It feels really beautiful and magical that it is just all females. I never set out for it to be that way, I think because it’s not very common and you almost don’t get that opportunity very much to work with just females in a room.” 

Addison is more than just a debut album It is a reintroduction a statement and a cultural reset She is not just a TikTok star turned singer she is a full fledged pop artist with a clear vision a unique voice and a message that is all her own.