Addison Rae is proving herself to be a true pop contender. Her latest single “Headphones On” is a clear statement that she is here for the music. The song arrives with a beautifully shot music video filmed in Reykjavík, Iceland, directed by Mitch Ryan, but the real focus is the sound.
“Headphones On” is a lush and confident dive into warm 1990s R&B, drawing inspiration from iconic records like” Bedtime Stories,”and “Velvet Rope”. The production is smooth and filled with textured vocal effects, lush strings, and deep bass, with Rae’s vocals floating effortlessly over it all. It is not a throwback for the sake of nostalgia but a genuine homage, reimagined in her own voice.
At four minutes long, the track stands out in a pop era dominated by songs under three. There is a full pre-chorus, a proper outro, and space for the song to breathe.
This is her fourth single, and once again, she switches up the sound entirely. Each release so far has carved out a different lane. It is impressive how deeply she is willing to research pop music, and even more impressive how focused and polished the results are. Rae clearly did not take the easy route. She did her homework and it shows.
The single follows her surprise appearance during Arca’s Coachella set on April 13. The two performed “Arcamarine”(Arca’s remix of Rae’s “Aquamarine”)and during the performance Rae revealed the date “June 6” on her underwear, widely believed to be the release date of her debut album.
If she continues in this direction, Rae’s debut album could be one of the most exciting and musically mature pop projects of the year.