And yet, she ended up with a record deal all the same.
I just mood-boarded my vibes, Rae toldRolling Stoneinher February 2025 cover story.
I literally had no music to play him at that point, so it was about trust.
Photograph by INEZ AND VINOODH
Like, Yes, Im in the clouds, and I enjoy being there.
But Im also serious.
Around the same time, some text exchanges with mentorCharli XCXeventually morphed into studio sessions.
[Charli] respected me and my ideas, Rae said.
I owe that all to Charli.
Rae received similar guidance from Max Martin while working out of the MxM Music offices in Sweden.
I had told him I struggle with talking about things that are really close to me, Rae recalled.
Rae has co-written every song on her album with Kloser and Anderfjard.
When she first started chipping away at it, she stuck to small sessions with a single producer.
Its how she pushed herself to listen to her gut and rely on her own instincts.
We were both shocked [that] her taste leaned very left and underground at times, Kloser said.
The spirit of pop from all three cities has made its way into its DNA.
Cruising in her black Range Rover, Rae previewed a few songs forRolling Stones Brittany Spanos.
(I still think that songs good, Rae notes.)
Theres no ego or self-seriousness.
For Rae, mood boards arent exclusively reserved for new-year manifestations.
For the album, the mood board calls for disco balls, not balled up Kleenex.
She closes out one song declaring, Im the richest girl in the world!
That board was all Marilyn Monroe and killer shoes.
With Addison, it can come down to a rock she saw, Kloser added.
Shell bring up a specific tree and say, This is what Diet Pepsi feels like.
And if Addison Rae says that tree is Diet Pepsi, that tree is Diet Pepsi.
