Reneé Rapp Bites Back with New Album BITE ME
Actress and singer Reneé Rapp is officially back, and she’s not asking for permission. Her sophomore album BITE ME has arrived, and it’s already proving to be the messy, unfiltered, gloriously queer soundtrack we didn’t know our summer needed.
We’ve been on this ride with Rapp since Snow Angel, her debut studio album released in 2023. That record introduced us to her signature blend of pop vulnerability and rage-fueled self-expression. But BITE ME? This one’s got its teeth out. In the time between albums, Rapp wrapped her scene-stealing role in The Sex Lives of College Girls and took over the big screen as Regina George in the Mean Girls musical film, cementing herself as one of the queer pop culture powerhouses of this generation.
Leading up to BITE ME, Rapp teased the chaos with three high-impact singles: Leave Me Alone, Mad, and the emotionally cutting Why Is She Still Here? All three tracks gave us a taste of what this new chapter would sound like: a little louder, a little bolder, and completely unapologetic.
When creating the album, Rapp took inspiration from iconic rock rebels like Alanis Morissette and Joan Jett. And you can hear it, not just in the gritty guitar lines and sharp-tongued lyrics, but in the confidence that radiates through every track. She had more time and creative control this time around, trading the grueling filming schedule of Mean Girls for a more focused recording process. “I started seeking my own approval,” she told Rolling Stone, “and not only did I try to cultivate my own approval, but I was trying to cultivate my own environment.”
And it shows. There’s a rawness to BITE ME that feels electric. It’s the kind of album that dares you to feel everything all at once—heartache, desire, defiance, delusion—and then dares you not to flinch. The production is polished but pulsing with tension, like someone trying to hold it together while dancing through the drama. Standout track Shy, which Rapp just performed for the first time on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, is a prime example of that tension: vulnerable but bold, sweet but seething.
From glam-rock bangers to synth-soaked confessions, BITE ME moves like a whirlwind through the many versions of queer girlhood: heartbroken, hot, hungover, and everything in between. And while Rapp’s Broadway roots give some tracks that signature theatrical edge, this record feels more like a dive bar monologue than a polished stage production. It’s messy, moody, and full of bite. In other words, pure chaotic energy in the best way.
As if the album drop weren’t enough, Rapp is celebrating in style. To commemorate the release, Rapp threw a special BITE ME Album Release Show last night at Warsaw in Brooklyn, giving fans an up-close taste of what’s to come. And come September 23, she’ll kick off her biggest headlining tour yet. The BITE ME North American tour will hit 16 cities, including iconic stops at Madison Square Garden, the Kia Forum, and TD Garden. For anyone who’s been following the trail of Rapp-branded tabloids, cryptic NDA prompts on the BITE.MEwebsite, or Paris Hilton’s “Bite Me” shoutout on socials—yes, it’s all been leading to this moment.
With BITE ME, Reneé Rapp’s stepping into her own spotlight, no co-star required. Rapp isn’t just one to watch, she’s one to listen to, scream along with, and maybe cry in the club to. BITE ME is the queer anthem machine we needed this summer, and we’re so here for it.
So what are you waiting for? Stream BITE ME, add it to every playlist you’ve got, and prepare to have it on repeat well into fall. We’ll see you on tour.
BITE ME is available to stream on all major music platforms. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Image Courtesy of Interscope Records
