Last August, Addison Rae did something unexpected. She released a breathy, slinky song near the tail end of Brat summer and propelled herself into the mainstream music scene. Everywhere you went, “Diet Pepsi” was on. A few weeks later, she joined Charli XCX and Troye Sivan at their sold-out Madison Square Garden Sweat tour stop to perform it live for the first time (it made me cry! For real!). The former TikTok star who rose to popularity with her dance videos had broken the code. She released a hit.
What followed was a rebrand of sorts. She was featured on a Charli XCX remix, took the stage with Arca at Coachella, and continued to release singles, alongside high-concept music videos, throughout the year to prepare fans for her self-titled debut-album release. I would argue the 24-year-old used the past year to find her footing — but do we know her any better? Even after listening to 33 minutes of Addison, we’re not too sure. Nonetheless, we had to commemorate the moment by listening to the album first thing this morning and talking about it with one another on Slack. Here’s what the Cut team thought.
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Brooke LaMantia, editorial assistant: What are everyone’s initial thoughts on the album?
Julia Reinstein, morning blogger: Opening with “New York” is so good. I am floating!
Bianca Nieves, senior shopping editor: “New York” is her “Party in the U.S.A.” It was a strong start, but then I got a bit bored.
Emily Leibert, writer: Aside from the singles she released (and there were too many, in my opinion), it has a 2000s Whoa, Nelly! lying-in-the-grass sound.
Brooke L.: It did feel like I had listened to half the album already.
Emily L: Of the new songs on the album, “Summer Forever” and “In the Rain” are my favorites, but they do not hold a motherfucking candle to “Diet Pepsi” or “Fame Is a Gun.” Dreamy lyrics, naked-on-the-beach vibes, pop girl from Louisiana … I get it.
Brooke Marine, deputy culture editor: “In the Rain” feels like a Janet-type beat. I’m into it.
Julia R.: My hot take is I want Addison and Miley Cyrus to collaborate. My other hot take is I want Miley, Addison, and Ethel Cain to collaborate. They are all doing cool ambient shit! We need Perverts (Addison’s Version).
Emily L.: I’m also obsessed that Addison’s idea of New York is so generic. Bowery hotel! The people are free!
Jordan Larson, features editor: I just hear Charli XCX when I listen to “New York.” Except slow, like she took too much K.
Emily L.: If “New York” is the K, “Lost & Found” is the K-hole.
Bianca N.: I think she was trying to give Tumblr and landed in WeHeartIt, which is just as iconic but not the same. It goes more with her album art, too.
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Brook L.: Do we feel like this was authentic to Addison? Do we understand who she is now?
Emily L.: I think her creative team did an incredible job of curating a neon-pink, sepia-toned, photos-on-film aesthetic of an album. Do we know Addison any better because of it? I don’t think so. This feels like a sonic mood board, not a cohesive statement about an artist.
Julia R.: She is unknowable, and I am okay with it.
Brooke L.: I mean, she is 24. “Times Like These” felt like the most we’ve learned about her even though they were pretty generic feelings, like “I’m so confused” on a loop. Which, fair.
Emily L.: The things I know about Addison at this point are she likes making out in the car, she likes when her lips reflect off his cross gold chain, and she likes crying in the rain.
Brooke L: What music video are we most excited for? I can’t wait to see “New York” through her lens.
Julia R.: She’s already put out so many videos! Like half of this album was already a single. But yes, “New York” is the answer.
Emily L.: I want to see her go to Basement. Or send her to the unfinished Brooklyn Mirage in a hard hat.
Julia R.: “Who Will Addison Rae Endorse in the New York Mayoral?”
Brooke L.: She can use the video to canvass for Zohran.
Emily L.: I want to give “Money Is Everything,” “Times Like These,” and “Life’s No Fun Through Clear Waters” some time to simmer in my brain. If I give them enough airtime, I’ll probably end up liking them unironically. And I do like her unironically, as you all know.
Julia R.: I have been an unironic fan since “2 Die 4.”
Brooke L.: Last question: Is Addison giving us the opulence of girlhood, as other interviews have said?
Julia R.: “Opulence of girlhood”? I don’t think so. It all has a vague sadness about it.
Emily L.: Her “opulence” doesn’t exist without the messiness of being a young woman. It’s pearls and flash photography but also powdered-sugar snow angels and rage screams.
Brooke L.: It’s modern girlhood.
Julia R.: It’s wearing perfume but also being a little smelly.
Emily L.: Just a hint of B.O. Not to be weird, but I love how sexual it is! Women of this age are feral, and I’m happy to see her representing that authentically.
Julia R.: As Lorde said, “It’s so yummy seeing someone so in their body.” I cannot wait for the tour.
