When you press play on Addison Rae’s new video for “Headphones On,” you’re not just watching a pop video—you’re stepping into a dreamscape. From the very first frame, the world she creates beckons with neon hair, sweeping Nordic landscapes, and that feeling only the right song at the right moment can bring. The direction of the video—helmed by rising filmmaker Mitch Ryan—is rich with symbolism and emotion, inviting viewers of all ages to find themselves in its quietly surreal, yet unexpectedly relatable moments.
If you’ve ever blasted music through your headphones to drown out the noise or danced around your room to escape a hard day, this video is for you. Addison appears both powerful and vulnerable, striding across the Icelandic countryside with wired earbuds acting like a personal lifeline. There’s something deeply comforting about seeing her find her rhythm amidst the vastness. It’s a visual love letter to the solace music offers when the outside world becomes overwhelming.
Much of the magic lies in the subtle choices. The pink hair doesn’t just pop on screen—it radiates confidence and carefree youthfulness. The moments spent perched on a white horse or gazing into the distance are quiet acts of wonder. There’s no flashy narrative and no elaborate storyline, yet it resonates deeply. Mitchell Ryan’s direction allows emotional texture to lead the way, skipping spectacle in favor of serenity, playfulness, and moments of inner dialogue that many of us know but rarely see expressed so thoughtfully onscreen.
The choreography feels spontaneous, as if Addison is truly lost in music—something we’re all invited into, rather than a performance separated by the screen. The balance between fantasy and grounded storytelling reflects what “Headphones On” is really about: reclaiming control, even when things feel uncertain. Rae doesn’t just perform a character; she lets us see fragments of herself. The video leans into the feeling of escape and self-expression, encouraging the viewer that it’s okay to find beauty in the quiet moments and strength in your personal soundtrack.
Whether you’re navigating something tough or simply needing that burst of joy, this video taps into something real. And maybe that’s what makes it so powerful—not just how it looks, but how it makes you feel.
Filming in Reykjavík brought an ethereal authenticity to “Headphones On” that sets the video apart from so many glossy pop visuals. Iceland’s dramatic beauty—its black sand beaches, surreal lava fields, and snow-dusted mountains—grounded the emotional atmosphere of the video in a way that feels both astonishing and incredibly personal. It’s not just a backdrop; it’s part of the story. The vastness and untouched calm of Reykjavík’s surroundings mirror the internal world Addison Rae taps into throughout the song—a search for peace, clarity, and a return to self.
There’s something quite special about setting a song so intimately about escape and inner worlds against a landscape as vast and otherworldly as Iceland’s. For anyone who’s ever felt small in the chaos of life, the image of Addison wandering through fields in near silence will feel achingly familiar. The wind whips her hair, the sky stretches endlessly overhead, and the clink of her wired earbuds is a subtle but powerful reminder: even out in the middle of nowhere, you can still bring your own soundtrack with you.
The decision to shoot in Reykjavík wasn’t just aesthetic—it served as a healing canvas. According to behind-the-scenes upgrades shared on social media by the crew, the location influenced the tone and pace of the shoot. The crew adapted to unpredictable weather, chasing natural light and embracing spontaneous shifts in the environment. There was no studio control to sanitize or script the experience. In that sense, this wasn’t just a video shoot—it was a lived moment. And that makes all the difference.
For fans who’ve followed Addison’s transition from social media star to music artist, there’s something profoundly moving about watching her stand at the edge of a glacier, framed by clouds, letting the music carry her through. She’s vulnerable in the wild—no backup dancers, no elaborate set builds, just a girl, her headphones, and a landscape that reflects both her isolation and her power to rise above it.
If you’ve ever needed a reminder that it’s okay to wander, to pause, to find beauty in being a little lost—Reykjavík, as captured here, offers that message. It whispers through every frame: there’s strength in stillness, magic in the cliffs, and healing in a place where the sky meets the earth in silence.
Behind the evocative soundscapes and ethereal visuals of “Headphones On” is a tight-knit creative team whose shared vision brought Addison Rae’s intimate anthem to life. The songwriting and production were helmed by collaborators who truly understood not only Rae’s musical evolution but also the emotional core of the track. Working closely with Rae were producers Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser—two women celebrated in the pop and electronic landscapes for their nuanced, genre-blending approaches to production.
There’s something uniquely empowering about this collaboration. Elvira Anderfjärd, known for her work on Taylor Swift’s “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” and other emotionally resonant remixes, brought a fine balance of polish and vulnerability to the sound. Her textured layering of synths, subtle percussive rolls, and vocal effects allowed Addison’s voice to remain front and center while still wrapping the listener in an atmospheric cocoon of sound. Luka Kloser, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter in her own right, infused the track with youthful urgency and jubilant emotive runs that mirrored Addison’s personal connection to the song’s themes.
For Addison, this chorus of female creativity wasn’t just empowering—it felt necessary. She has spoken in interviews about the importance of being surrounded by a team that doesn’t just hear her vision but feels it. Writing sessions reportedly began with open conversations about times Rae turned to music for support—the long nights, the pressure of scrutiny, the longing to tune everything out just for a few moments. These emotional truths became the lyrical heartbeat of “Headphones On.”
- Key songwriting contributors: Addison Rae, Elvira Anderfjärd, Luka Kloser
- Production: Elvira Anderfjärd & Luka Kloser
- Writing process focus: Emotional authenticity, sonic escapism, reclaiming solitude
There’s a kind of magic that happens when a studio becomes more than a workspace—it becomes a safe place. According to Rae, there were times during recording when the lights were dimmed, and they just listened to the playback in complete silence. That kind of trust and vulnerability embedded itself into the final mix. Layer by layer, “Headphones On” became not just a song, but a sanctuary—for Rae, for her collaborators, and now, for fans too.
And while the lyrics may seem simple on the surface—”headphones on, and I disappear”—they pulse with raw introspection. They reflect the universal need to escape, even just for a minute. In those words, you can hear the gentle acknowledgment that sometimes, it’s okay not to be okay. That you can be both overwhelmed and still in control of how you cope. That’s the power of a good song—and that’s the gift Addison and her team have managed to offer here.
Whether you’re discovering Addison’s music for the first time or have been rooting for her since the early days, knowing the heart and artistry behind “Headphones On” makes each note resonate deeper. It’s more than just a pop track—it’s a collaboration built on empathy, creativity, and the raw beauty of shared experiences turned into art.
As the shimmering soundscape of “Headphones On” continues to ripple through streaming platforms and fan spaces alike, it’s clear that the track is more than just another single—it’s a defining moment in the build-up to Addison Rae’s much-anticipated debut album. Many fans have followed Rae’s transition from viral fame to serious music artistry with skepticism, hope, and curiosity. Now, with this string of releases—“Diet Pepsi,” “Aquamarine,” “High Fashion,” and now “Headphones On”—that evolution is not only coming into focus but becoming something deeply personal for listeners walking their own winding roads.
What’s exciting about the path to this album is how intentional each step has been. There’s a patience to Rae’s rollout—each release spaced enough to breathe, each visual brimming with its own aesthetic vocabulary, and each song tackling different shades of emotion. For fans, this isn’t just an album era—it feels like a chaptered story unfolding in real time, a playlist for late-night thoughts, quiet wins, and everything in between.
The fact that Addison has taken her time—allowing each single to find its beat in the world before jumping to the next—has created a sense of trust. This isn’t a rushed attempt to earn credibility; it’s a thoughtful unveiling rooted in intention and growth. Rae herself has noted how crucial it was for her not to release a full-length album until she had something meaningful to say, not only as an entertainer but as a young woman navigating real emotional terrain with all of us watching.
Leading up to the album’s rumored release date of June 6, Rae has embraced vulnerability in ways that resonate far beyond catchy hooks. On social media, she’s shared glimpses into the recording process—photos of dimly lit studio sessions, journal entries scribbled in the margins of her lyric books, and quiet apologies for delays that suggest she wants this project to be not just successful, but honest.
For many listeners—especially younger ones—this journey mirrors their own. The headspace Rae inhabits between singles speaks to transitional moments: the fear of starting over, the courage to stand in your truth, and the complexity of being soft and strong at once. This debut album isn’t just being awaited—it’s being felt.
- Previous single “Diet Pepsi” served up an iced rebellion, polished and punchy.
- “Aquamarine” shimmered with ethereal vulnerability, especially poignant in its remix with Arca.
- “High Fashion” added groove and grit, signaling Rae’s comfort in her musical skin.
- Now, “Headphones On” ties the thread of healing and retreat together into a soft, powerful anthem.
Each song is a mood, a memory, a message—to herself and to us. If you’ve been quietly rooting for Addison or maybe still finding your way into her music, this upcoming album invites you to listen with heart. It’s for anyone who’s ever tried to figure themselves out in the quiet, who’s still unfolding, still learning, and still dancing through the static of life. The countdown to June is more than anticipation—it’s a collective exhale, a new chapter coming into bloom.
Since the release of “Headphones On,” there’s been an unmistakable shift in how both fans and critics are responding to Addison Rae—one that honors not just the quality of the music, but the intention behind it. The reception has been overwhelmingly warm, with listeners praising not just the catchiness of the track but the emotional resonance that seems to deepen with every replay. A lot of fans have taken to social media to share how the song has become their personal refuge during stressful days or moments of self-doubt. And isn’t that one of the most healing things music can do—make us feel less alone?
Across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Spotify, “Headphones On” is blossoming into something more than a song—it’s becoming an experience. TikTok especially has birthed a new wave of dance and visual trends riffing off the track’s dreamy energy. From bedroom dance edits to slow-motion transition challenges set to its ethereal chorus, the song is giving people permission to play, to perform, and most meaningfully, to express. There’s even a new tag trending: #HeadphonesEscape, where users pair the song with vignettes from their daily lives—watching sunsets, walking through their cities, lying in bed with the lights out. It’s beautiful, communal, and intensely human.
Streaming numbers have reflected this emotional momentum. Within its first week, “Headphones On” surged into the top 20 on Apple Music’s pop chart and made an impressive debut on Spotify’s Global Viral 50. More notably, the song’s heartfelt relatability has led it to find a place on high-profile editorial playlists focused on self-care, winding down, and late-night drives. That kind of resonance isn’t built on hype—it’s built on connection.
- Spotify Global Viral 50: Debuted within the top 30 within three days of release
- Apple Music Pop Chart: Peaked at #17 during launch week
- Billboard Hot 100 Watch: Predicted to enter the charts after sustained digital momentum
- Shazam Tags: Over 250k with peaks in the US, UK, and Brazil
Critics too have taken note. Though Addison Rae faced early skepticism during her music debut, many outlets—Pitchfork included—are now recognizing her emotional insight, meticulous curation, and artistic courage. One reviewer called “Headphones On” a “low-volume thunderstorm of emotional relief,” while another praised its “velvet vulnerability wrapped in pop-acoustic bliss.” It’s a major pivot from the dismissive tone some early music coverage adopted—and a testament to how fully Rae has stepped into her story and her sound.
But maybe what’s most meaningful right now is this: fans don’t just stream her music—they feel seen by it. In the comments on YouTube and Reddit threads, users share that they’ve cried to this track, danced to it in their kitchens, or sent it to a friend as a way of saying, “Hey, I’m here.” That intimacy is the pulse behind “Headphones On.” It’s not trying to be the loudest song in the room; it’s trying to be the one that whispers, “It’s okay, you’ve got this.”
“Headphones On” is moving, not just in charts and playlists, but in people’s lives. If you’ve ever felt like tuning out the noise just to hear your heart beat more clearly, then this song understands you deeply. And that understanding? It’s turning Addison Rae from a pop contender into a voice that truly matters.
