If you ask anyone in the year 2020 with TikTok downloaded on their phone, they would describe Addison Rae as a viral sensation known for her short dancing videos. Fast forward to 2025, and their answer would be very different. Addison Rae has completely reinvented herself with her transition into music, creating this new, fresh persona similar to that of a late 2000s diva that we haven’t seen in a pop star for years. With ‘y2k’ fashion and culture trending and on the rise, Addison Rae’s music debut fits right in.
Rae’s first single ‘Obsessed’ was released along with a music video in March 2021, and received a somewhat confused response. In an era where it is common for social media stars to turn to music, not many people were surprised with this release, and whilst it had some commotion for a while, the song did not pave the way for Rae within music.
It was then in 2022 when a series of unreleased songs by Rae were leaked online, and they flew quite under the radar. With influences such as Gaga and Britney Spears, these songs presented Addison as something fresh and exciting, further separating her from the TikTok persona she was known for. Songs such as ‘Nothing On (But The Radio)’ were songs created for Lady Gaga originally, framing Addison in the same picture as iconic, alternative-pop icons of the 2000s. Most of these songs were then officially released quite sometime later in 2023, as Addison Rae’s debut EP AR, meaning myself and many others could finally stop listening to them through Soundcloud.
Fast forward to now – with ‘High Fashion’ being released on Valentine’s Day 2025 as the third single for her upcoming first album, Rae has accumulated a fanbase of young adults who value fashion and pop culture. Following up from incredible pop tracks ‘Diet Pepsi’ and ‘Aquamarine’, single number three had a lot to live up to.
The snippet of this song posted before the release immediately gained traction on social media platforms such as TikTok – amassing 580 thousand likes and 4.3 million views in total. The lyric “I Don’t Need Your Drugs, I’d Rather Get High Fashion” had been teased by Addison for weeks, being seen printed on a t-shirt in one of Rae’s many camp paparazzi shots out in Los Angeles – and was now on full display in hot pink lettering in this teaser.
As soon as it hit midnight on February 14th, I hit play on ‘High Fashion’. This fierce third single has completely lived up to expectations, and it seems that Addison Rae can only get better. The soft vocals matched with such an impactful backing track create a dynamic sound that feels like it would fit perfectly in an impactful, slow-motion club scene in a movie. Vocal aspects such as the almost-whisper “I know I’m drunk, but-“ matched with that deep background synth throughout the song makes this track feel sexy and sleek, further framing Addison Rae as the cool-girl 2000s diva that X, formerly known as Twitter, fans love to describe her as.
This song alongside ‘Diet Pepsi’ and ‘Aquamarine’ proves that Addison Rae is one to watch coming up to the release of her well-anticipated first album. With creativity off the charts and a pure passion for what she does, Rae is a breath of fresh air in the pop world and someone who is going to go far within the industry.
Written by: Amber G.
Edited by: Ilse Muis
