Addison Rae
{{Infobox person
, name = Addison Rae
, image = Addison Rae Pandora ME 2021 02.jpg
, caption = Rae in 2021
, birth_name = Addison Rae Easterling
, birth_place = Lafayette, Louisiana, U.S ...
, as the second single from Rae's debut studio album '' Addison''. Just like its predecessor, the song received widespread critical acclaim from critics and wider audiences. The
deep house
Deep house is a subgenre of house music that originated in the 1980s, initially fusing elements of Chicago house with the lush chords of 1980s jazz-funk and touches of soul music. Its origins are attributed to the early recordings of Larry Heard ...
and
dance-pop
Dance-pop is a Music genre, genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit ra ...
song with strong
Eurodance
Eurodance (sometimes referred to as Euro-NRG) is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the late 1980s in Europe. It combines many elements of Hip-hop, rap, techno and Eurodisco. This genre of music is heavily influenced by the use ...
influences' lyrics speak about
self-discovery
A "journey of self-discovery" refers to a travel, pilgrimage, or series of events whereby a person attempts to determine how they feel, personally, about spiritual issues or priorities,Elvira Anderfjärd
Elvira Anderfjärd, (born 1 August 1999) also known mononymously as Elvira, is a Swedish record producer and songwriter. She achieved prominence after remixing the singles "Willow" (2020), " Love Story (Taylor's Version)" (2021), and producing " ...
and Luka Kloser.
Background
Rae shared first hints of new music in June 2024 through her social media. While guest appearing at
Charli XCX
Charlotte Emma Aitchison (born 2 August 1992), known professionally as Charli XCX, is a British singer and songwriter. She began posting songs on Myspace in 2008 before entering the London rave scene. Signing a recording contract with Asylum Re ...
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
show, she posted a video of herself in a bikini and stilettos walking underwater in a pool as a snippet of "Aquamarine" played over it, which quickly gained traction online and was also teased in the intro to her "
Diet Pepsi
Diet Pepsi, also called Pepsi Light in some countries, is a diet carbonated cola soft drink produced by PepsiCo, introduced in 1964 as a variant of Pepsi with no sugar. First test marketed in 1963 under the name Patio Diet Cola, it was re-bra ...
" music video. Rae said: "'Diet Pepsi' was always going to be the first thing I dropped, this one only felt right to follow up... I think it's very different, but also in the same universe. And I think that was really essential—that it felt very cohesive and it can exist in the same world." The song is about
self-discovery
A "journey of self-discovery" refers to a travel, pilgrimage, or series of events whereby a person attempts to determine how they feel, personally, about spiritual issues or priorities,the color is so gorgeous that I was like, 'How can I make a song that contextualizes that feeling?'"
Reception
The song received critical acclaim from both critics and listeners, who praised the song, calling it "her boldest release yet". ''
Grazia
''Grazia'' (; ; stylized in all caps) is a weekly women's magazine that originated in Italy with international editions printed in Albania, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, In ...
'' described the song as "enshrining her place" as a musical force to be reckoned with and taken seriously. The song was also compared to the works of
Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...
,
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue (; born 28 May 1968) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Frequently referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Princess of Pop", she has achieved recognition in both the music industry and fas ...
, and
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making her one of the world's best-selling music artists. Cultural impact of Brit ...
. Brittany Spanos of ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
'' stated Rae "is on a pop hot streak" with the single's release, calling it "dreamy" and "entrancing", while ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
''s Jason Lipshutz wrote Rae's "pop aesthetic is coming into focus" describing it as "dextracting the breathy flirtations from previous single 'Diet Pepsi' and applying them to a sleek, futuristic dance-pop sheen." Gabriel Saulog of ''
Billboard Philippines
''Billboard Philippines'' (also shortened as ''Billboard PH'') is a Philippine music and entertainment media brand and magazine owned by Modern Media Group, serving as the local edition of the ''Billboard'' magazine. It publishes news, video ...
'' wrote that the song embraces and breathes new life into its " '90s Eurodance influences –– complete with twinkling synth elements, steady club beats, and Rae's soft yet dreamy vocals that evoke a sensual (if provocative) nature" noting that its reminiscent of Madonna's ''
Ray of Light
''Ray of Light'' is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on February 22, 1998, by Maverick Records. A major stylistic and aesthetic departure from her previous work, '' Bedtime Stories'', ''Ray of Light'' is ...
'' (1998) and "rightfully" solidifies "her status as a rising figure in today's pop landscape." Michael Kearney of ''Earmilk'' praised Rae's "refreshing and bold" sound, writing that "Aquamarine" is a "sparkling, dance-driven track that blends sensual, aquatic themes over a sweeping four-on-the-floor beat," comparing its "nostalgic 90s-inspired synths" specifically to Madonna's "
Nothing Really Matters
"Nothing Really Matters" is a song by American singer Madonna for her seventh studio album, ''Ray of Light'' (1998). It was written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, and was produced by the singer with William Orbit and Marius De Vries. The song ...
" (1999) and Spears' " Breathe on Me" (2003).
Spanos described "Aquamarine" as "dazzling and hypnotic" while commenting on Rae's reinvention as an artist: "She aligned herself with the music and fashion world's most beloved avant-gardists — Charli, Arca,
Rosalía
Rosalia Vila Tobella (born 25 September 1992), known mononymously as Rosalía (, ), is a Spanish Pop music, pop and flamenco singer. She has been described as an "atypical pop star" due to her genre-bending musical styles. After being enthral ...
,
Petra Collins
Petra Collins (born December 21, 1992) is a Canadian artist, director of photography, fashion model and actress who rose to prominence in the early 2010s. Her photography is characterized by a feminine, dreamlike feel, informed in part by a fe ...
, ''
Interview Magazine
''Interview'' is an American magazine founded by pop artist Andy Warhol and journalist John Wilcock in 1969. The magazine, nicknamed "The Crystal Ball of Pop," features interviews of and by celebrities.
Background
In 1965, pop artist Andy War ...
''s
Mel Ottenberg
Mel Ottenberg (born 1976) is an American wardrobe stylist and the editor-in-chief of ''Interview'' magazine. From 2011 to 2019, he worked as Rihanna's stylist and has styled numerous other high profile musicians, actresses, and celebrities. In 20 ...
and Dara Allen — who helped bring her vision to life everywhere from music videos to remixes to surprise performances at
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...
." English singer-songwriter Charli XCX praised the song online, calling Rae a "musical genius". It polled at number 132 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2024.
Music video
On October 23, 2024, Rae released a teaser for the music video on her social media platforms. In the clip, Rae can be seen smoking multiple cigarettes before getting up and walking down a dimly lit street in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
, France. The official video was then released on October 25, with
Sean Price Williams
Sean Price Williams is an American cinematographer and film director. Williams is known for his work as a cinematographer, frequently collaborating with Alex Ross Perry and the Safdie Brothers. He made his directorial feature film debut with '' T ...
returning as director and Mel Ottenberg as creative director following their previous work with Rae on "Diet Pepsi". It was choreographed by Danielle Polanco and styled by model and stylist Dara Allen. Allen explained: "I feel like it was so much about creating a language for the Aqua character that was about being free in that kind of space. It's sort of like, you're unafraid to make others uncomfortable because you're so comfortable in what you're doing... you take the mask off and you're free." The styling was also inspired by "fashion legends" from the '60s and '70s, such as
Jane Birkin
Jane Mallory Birkin ( ; 14 December 1946 – 16 July 2023) was a British and French actress, singer, and designer. She had a prolific career as an actress, mostly in French cinema.
A native of London, Birkin began her career as an actress, ...
and
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot ( ; ; born 28 September 1934), often referred to by her initials B.B., is a French former actress, singer, and model as well as an animal rights activist. Famous for portraying characters with Hedonism, hedonistic life ...
.
The video, filmed in Paris, opens with Rae dancing in a room and in a bathtub. The video progresses with her dancing with a chair on the street, interspersed with clips of Rae, wearing a sparkly dress, atop a bridge. Towards the end, she is wearing a skin-colored outfit and dances in the street at night. According to Rae, the fact she becomes increasingly bare as the video progresses "represents the journey to complete abandon of worry and fear of judgement."
Arca remix
The idea of collaborating with Venezuelan producer Arca came after a 2023 ''
Vogue
Vogue may refer to:
Business
* ''Vogue'' (magazine), a US fashion magazine
** British ''Vogue'', a British fashion magazine
** '' Vogue Adria'', a fashion magazine for former Yugoslav countries
** ''Vogue Arabia'', an Arab fashion magazine
** ' ...
'' interview with Rae, where she stated that she would love to work with Arca and is a huge fan of her music. Later in early November 2024, Arca teased the remix, titled "Arcamarine", while performing live. The remix, a "slowed-down,
reggaeton
Reggaeton (, ) is a modern style of popular music, popular and electronic music that originated in Panamanian reggaetón, Panama during the late 1980s, and which rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s through a plethora of Puert ...
-inflected song", was officially released on November 15, 2024.
Rae also shared an accompanying video for the track shot in a tropical setting and directed by her friend Lexee Smith. She stated: "Thank you again, Arca, for being an essential part of an electrically special moment in time. ..I feel sexy and free when I listen to this. You create magic," continuining, "This song/video is profoundly special to me in more ways than one. There is something deeply moving and soul baring about seeing yourself through the lens of your best friend."
Live performances
During Arca's
Coachella 2025
Coachella 2025 was a music and arts festival that took place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California on April 11–13 and April 18–20, 2025. It is the 24th edition of the festival. The headlining performers were Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post ...
set on April 14, Rae appeared as a guest and performed "Arcamarine", and teased the release date for her then-untitled debut studio album.
Track listing
* Digital download
# "Aquamarine" – 2:42
* Digital download
# "Aquamarine / Arcamarine" (with Arca) – 3:14
* 7" vinyl
Side A
# "Aquamarine" – 2:42
Side B
# "Arcamarine" – 3:14