When the Pop Princess Hits the Club
From viral lip-syncs to center stage at one of New York’s most infamous venues, Addison Rae is no longer auditioning—she’s headlining. Here’s what went down when TikTok’s favorite It Girl stepped into her final form: a full-blown pop star.
It was a Monday night at The Box — the notorious downtown club known for burlesque, cigarette smoke, and secrets that don’t leave the velvet booths. But this time, it wasn’t a fire-breather or tap-dancing drag queen taking center stage. It was Addison Rae. The same Addison who once filmed TikToks in Louisiana bedrooms. The one who became an internet fixation. The one who’s now officially, undeniably... That Girl.
Addison Rae performs during the Spotify release party at The Box on June 05, 2025 in New York City.Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images for Spotify
To celebrate her long-awaited debut album Addison, the rising pop phenom hosted a release party-slash-performance that blurred the lines between theatre and fever dream. Clad in a custom red leather mini and flanked by dancers, Addison performed in front of a wall of LED flames, owning every inch of the stage like she was born under it. The crowd? A feverish blur of industry insiders, fans, and friends like Charli XCX and Julia Fox.
Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
But this wasn’t just a vanity party—it was a declaration. A soft-spoken Southern girl stepping fully into her camp-coded, starlet era. Addison didn’t just sing; she proved something. That pop music is alive. That a viral girl can go vinyl. And that main pop girl status is something you take—not something you're handed.
Between the raunchy venue choice (a Gen Z Madonna move) and her whispery vocals over pulsing synths, Addison gave us nostalgia without mimicry. A love letter to the genre that raised her. Critics have praised the album for its sticky hooks and sharp production, with songwriting credits from Sarah Hudson, Amy Allen, and Amber Park—pop’s quiet powerhouses.
If Veronica Electronica is Madonna’s ghost record, then Addison is Rae’s very real arrival. At The Box, she wasn’t trying to be the next Britney—she was Addison. Equal parts internet baby and industry threat. If you weren’t paying attention before... consider this your glitter-covered warning.