Of Ponies and Pop Stars: Sad-Girl Escapism, Neon Nostalgia and the Imaginative World of Addison Rae’s "Headphones On"

Written By Amy Boal

Addison Rae’s new music video “Headphones On” is escapist sad-girl heaven.

Director Mitch Ryan and Director of Photography Ben Carey take us on a visual journey into Iceland: a cinematic concoction of the mythic and the mundane.

Styled in suburban surrealism, Addison steps through a red vinyl curtain in supermarket chain Iceland, transporting us into her oversaturated world reminiscent of the early 2000s. Armed for another day of mind-numbing existence, Addison wears a pink-and-red rain jacket, white wired earbuds and a full face of teenage-bedroom-inspired glam by make-up artist Jenna Kuchera. We’re talking heavy, smoky eyeshadow, mauve-plum lipstick that’s giving, I did this at the back of the bus energy and two face gems placed like sparkling tears. At the till, we're checking out the nail art, featuring Iceland’s national flag, created by Japanese nail artist Mei Kawajiri. Here we have the perfect recipe for your average girl with big city dreams in a dead-end town. All glammed-up with nowhere to go - the sound and the setting fuse together to capture the girl who wants to be seen, and yet disappear.

Fairytale Frames: Pastel Skies and Horseback Rides

Imagine a moment soaked in the language of girlhood at its core. What could be more quintessential of a fairytale fever dream than riding a white horse across an open beach, in the surreal landscape of mythical Iceland? Many believed this was a vision too good to be true—that is, until Addison joyously shared on Instagram that, in preparation for the breathtaking scene, she had taken horseback riding lessons with the fabulous Kassidy Miller. The illusion shatters as the camera cuts to Addison singing along on a plastic white horse outside the supermarket - a refreshing reminder that we are only as limited as the extension of our own imagination.

Addison's look here is undeniably sensational - with her hot-pink hair and faded denim jeans, it's the modern fairytale we long to see. Hair stylist Lucas Wilson brought the look to life using Good Dye Young’s dazzling shade Ex-Girl. The company was co-founded by Hayley Williams, who in 2007 set our hearts on fire with her neon-orange and bright yellow hair in "Misery Business".

“A refreshing reminder that we are only as limited as the extension of our own imagination.”
— The Ink Dove Press

Rave Barbie Lost in Reykjavík

Dissociating in style, Addison puts her headphones on and transports us to the volcanic beaches of Reykjavík. Stylist Dara Allen has fun dressing our rave Barbie in iconic neon party-girl looks that echo the influences of Charli XCX's 'Brat Summer' and the 2010s Tumblr scene. With her iPhone tucked into neon-green underwear, Addison dances alone in a cobalt-blue T-shirt, bubblegum-pink vinyl boots and a faux-fur hooded parka.

In another stand-out scene, Addison lies playfully across Icelandic moss in full fairy mode. She wears a grape-purple zip-up hoodie, low-rise black trousers and royal-blue rain boots. With the added details of a chakra-styled alignment of belly gems, textured silver nail varnish and a clear, bubble-shaped umbrella, Addison lures us into her mystical party-girl moodboard.

Roots and Recognition

Across the globe, viewers have been captivated by a creative concept that is currently under question. In a recent Instagram post, which currently has over 26,000 likes, Icelandic artist Sasha Elage claims to be the original inspiration behind Mitch Ryan's flash of pink ponies. Sasha writes:

“Images, songs and ideas travel across the world in an instant, often without names, without stories, without roots. Recognition is not a favour. It is a form of truth.”

It certainly opens the conversation around how production companies can better support and credit creatives who have further inspired art that reaches the masses.

“A horse is a horse, but a pink horse is something that exists only in your imagination. ”
— Sasha Elage

The Headphones Are On - So When's The Album?

Mark your calendars for June 6, as Addison's self-titled debut album is set to make a splash. Addison shares that the album is "a deep desperation to understand myself better. A true collection of my proudest work yet."

With addictive tracks like "Diet Pepsi", "High Fashion", "Aquamarine" and "Headphones On", we cannot wait to dive into the bold, emerging world of Addison that is soon to be discovered.

Article Credits and Mentions

Amy Boal