Addison Rae was never just another social media celebrity trying to break into music. From the start, she’s flirted with a certain kind of pop stardom that feels both nostalgic and carefully curated—equal parts Britney-in-2001 and influencer-in-2025. But with the release of Addison, her long-awaited debut album, she’s finally asking us to take her seriously—not just as a performer, but as an artist.
The accompanying video for “Times Like These” couldn’t be more on-brand: a stripped-down behind-the-scenes concept that leans into her strengths—movement, mood, and magnetism. Addison Rae delivers clean, confident, and quietly personal, a visual extension of a song that’s less about bombast and more about reflection.
But here’s the question that hovers over Addison: can Rae transcend the “TikTok star turned singer” label, or is she destined to orbit the same lane carved out by countless influencers-turned-pop-acts before her?
To her credit, Rae seems aware of the stakes. In a recent interview, she spoke with rare vulnerability about the pressure to promote her work without overdoing it, about balancing her desire for authenticity with the hustle of modern music marketing. It’s a sentiment that runs through Addison, a record that often feels like a coming-of-age project wrapped in polished pop production.
Sonically, the album plays it safe—but that isn’t necessarily a flaw. There’s an undeniable charm in its simplicity. Rae’s voice, while not powerhouse by industry standards, finds strength in subtlety. She’s not belting for validation—she’s carving out space for emotion. The melodies are crisp, the hooks catchy enough to stick, and the production never drowns her out. But there’s also a sense of restraint, as if Rae—and perhaps her team—are still a little unsure how far she can or should push the boundaries.
“Times Like These” is arguably one of the record’s emotional anchors. It doesn’t scream for attention—it lingers. It’s the kind of track that grows on you, especially when paired with the visual that showcases Rae in her element: rehearsing, refining, performing. Her dance background isn’t a novelty here—it’s a language she speaks fluently, and the video is a reminder that her artistry is most visible when she’s in motion.
The biggest takeaway from Addison is that it’s a debut that understands the moment. Rae isn’t here to drop an earth-shattering reinvention of pop, but rather to offer her own version—earnest, meticulously styled, and rooted in the cultural machinery that built her. Whether that’s enough to earn her long-term credibility is another story, but for now, Addison is a confident step forward from someone who clearly wants to be more than just an algorithmic flash.
