A rising pop star who can do it all, Tate McRae, is strutting down her own path and creating a name for herself by kicking things off right in 2025 with her new album “So Close To What.”
Released on Feb. 21, the 21-year-old has already gotten audiences enthralled with her engaging mix of sensitivity and fierce attitude by meshing 90s-inspired sounds with her unique, popular beats.
With 16 songs sitting at 45 minutes, this album has McRae’s fierce pop twists that she has been crafting for years, while also going deeper than she ever has before.
With this album, McRae was able to really dive into her own experiences with sex, heartbreak, falling in love again and embracing the woman she is becoming by creating a piece of work unique to her other albums.
Even so, throughout her career she has refined her ability to hide personal themes and emotions behind raunchy lyricism and pop beats that allows audiences to dance along to her songs while also feeling validated in their own feelings all at once.
The song, “Purple Lace Bra,” the fifth song on the album, encapsulates just this. With multiple meanings, McRae expresses the feeling of being oversexualized or unheard in a relationship and also explores her media depiction throughout the song.
Leading up to the album’s release, McRae put out three singles, “It’s ok I’m ok,” “2 Hands,” and “Sports Car,” that got audiences talking and fans excited.
Hit single, “It’s ok I’m ok” was released on Sept. 12, 2024 and had an accompanying music video that has reached 34 millions views.
McRae’s confidence that shined through her movements paired perfectly with her powerful voice and left viewers dazzled, but what really captured audiences and caused this music video to become so talked about was McRae’s ability to step out of the bounds.
Within 30 seconds of the video’s start, McRae is seen being arrested by two male police officers for public indecency. With hands behind her back, pressed up against the car, she is portrayed as completely nude with a blurred top and bottom.
McRae is not scared to take risks and fully embrace her sexuality and attitude, while also writing heartfelt songs where she is putting her true feelings on the page.
This album does just that with pop hits like “bloodonmyhands” that features rapper Flo Milli, “Miss possessive” and “Sports car.” The album also showcases McRae’s vulnerable side with “Nostalgia” and “I know love” that features her current romantic partner The Kid LAROI.
McRae has been in the media’s eyes for years now and hasn’t let that stop her from challenging the norms and taking charge of her own music career.
Critics have compared McRae to global superstar Britney Spears due to her incredible use of dance choreography and sultry vocals.
With intense stage presence, catchy lyrics with double meanings, and a distinctive singing voice, she has captured audiences for years.
Since her first viral YouTube video of her singing original songs at just 14 years old, she has released numerous EPs and singles from 2017-2021, putting her name on the board.
She released her first album, “i used to think i could fly,” in 2022. It previewed her 2023 album, “THINK LATER” which housed her biggest song yet “greedy.” This landed her a spot in the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three.
Her third studio album, “So Close To What,” not only has fun pop beats but also lyric depth that is sure to further her extreme success in the coming years.
McRae is an excellent performer, singer and songwriter and all parts of this album have expressed just that.
Tickets are now being sold for her new 2025 tour, “Miss Possessive.”
