The Addison Rae Effect
By Stella Violet
How did Addison Rae escape the TikTok influencer space and head straight for stardom?
She was once a girl from Louisiana uploading dancing videos to TikTok and is now one of the latest upcoming Pop Stars.
But how did she get here? And, why couldn’t other influencers achieve mainstream status?
In July 2019, Addison Rae joined TikTok. Her rise to fame came shortly after when she amassed over one million followers after posting various videos of dancing, comedy skits and lip syncing to popular audios.
Three years later she appeared on the Met steps in a vintage 2003 Tom Ford red dress, rumored to have been gifted to her by none other than her BFF Kourtney Kardashian.
In between those three years it was almost as if she had done a 180.
In 2021, Rae said in an interview with MTV that she listens to Arca and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, sending the internet into a frenzy.
“When Addison Rae said a few years back that she listens to Arca I knew she would be a star. She’s our next Britney Spears. Just a Louisiana girl in a hyperpop world. I wish her nothing but success,” said one user.
After many years of speculation on Rae’s own music, her debut EP, titled “AR” was released in 2023 and received great feedback, unlike her debut single “Obsessed,” which was released earlier that same year.
The internet poked fun of the lyricism and music video attached to her debut single. As well as her acting skills in the remake of “She’s All That” on Netflix, titled “He’s All That.”
Rae went silent in regards to new music or acting gigs, until her EP was leaked on SoundCloud, featuring her version of a notoriously leaked song written by Lady Gaga titled, “Nothing On (But the Radio.)”
However, for those who didn’t listen, and had not heard from her since the infamous TikTok dancing days, not only was her EP a surprise, but something that was unlike the usual TikTok-esque tunes other influencers had released in the past.
Pop music had been on the decline for years since the rise of TikTok. Where influencers with ghostwriters and a shitload of money infiltrated and shoved horrible music down everyone’s throats online.
It had become a normality to see influencers try their hand at music and fail miserably.
It was almost like what others had tried endlessly to become, Addison Rae has seemingly always been, a pop star.
What separates her from the rest is Rae’s ability to be herself and emulate “star power.”
Even at the beginning of her career, she has always made it a point to show off her unique interests and fashion choices in interviews and paparazzi appearances.
For instance, when Rae was asked about her recent breakup with TikTokker Bryce Hall in a paparazzi interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Rae simply responded with “Shop item beauty,” her makeup line at the time.
Her appearance began to feel more authentic and less “mass produced online influencer.” A concept that was not only overdone but getting old at the time.
Has the world always seen her true vision?
No.
But, looking back at her career, she has been trying to show us her potential from the start. From her ode to Britney Spears with the release of her own doll to her dedication to posting on Tumblr in a 2014-kind-of-way.
She has always been a star, shooting far beyond the lip-syncing sphere.
Almost a year after her EP release, Rae was the first artist to be featured on a remix with Charli XCX on her upcoming album “Brat.”
Nobody knew to the extent how big the album would become in the next few months. However, the remix was well received and “The Von Dutch Remix” put Rae on the mainstream map as an artist to look out for.
Her latest single, “Diet Pepsi,” dropped last week, following the end of “Brat Summer.” And, the girls and gays at your local dive bars and clubs are loving it.
Rae has entered the Hollywood stratosphere and escaped the TikTok-ification of music.
Her past and upbringing would suggest that she could never listen to obscure artists. However, pop stars coming from small towns is nothing new.
Look at stories like Britney Spears, who is often compared to Rae, or even recently with Chappell Roan labeled as the “Midwest Princess.”
If you do your research you’ll see the stardom has always been there for Addison Rae, she just took a unique route to get there.
This summer pop music was saved, notably by artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Charli XCX.
However, this fall, we may be hearing more from Addison Rae besides her latest single, continuing her efforts and effect on the Pop Music Renaissance.
