Tate McRae cements herself as the newest pop sensation with ‘So Close To What’

Recommended Tracks: “Purple lace bra,” “Sports Car,” “I know love (feat. The Kid LAROI)”
Artists You Might Like: Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Camila Cabello

After massive success with Think Later, Tate McRae is cementing her spot as a pop sensation with her third studio album, So Close To What. Album by album, McRae’s sound gets sharper and bolder, proving to be a captivating voice in pop music. In honor of the new album, McRae is hitting the road for the Miss Possessive World Tour, which is completely sold out and just so happens to be her first arena tour.

McRae continues to unveil her alter ego, Tatiana, who was first introduced in Think Later. Tatiana is a confident, bold, chaotic, and sometimes exaggerated version of herself, helping to write tracks like “Sports Car,” which was co-written with musical legends Ryan Tedder and Julia Michaels. The song makes references to the famous “Whisper Song” by the Ying Yang Twins. The fan favorite single certainly has someone in the drivers seat, and that person is McRae.

The pop star has teamed up with an artist who is known for his signature melodic raps, The Kid LAROI. The long awaited collaboration comes after the two started dating in early 2024. McRae even brought out LAROI to sing “WITHOUT YOU” at a show on her previous tour. “I know love” references experiencing true love for the very first time. “It’s a little like drugs / Got you sick in the mornin’, down on your knees / Yea, you’re so fucked up fallen’ for me / I know love when it hits, when it hits, when it hits”

Though So Close To What is full of fun, upbeat, playful tracks, McRae didn’t leave her sad girl roots behind. In “Purple lace bra” she speaks on what its like to grow up in the limelight as a women. The track explores her relationship with the media and how sometimes she feels like she’s living under a microscope with everyone having an opinion on everything she does.

“I’m losin’ my mind, I’m losin’ my head / You only listen when I’m undressed / Hear what you like and none of the rest”

“Nostalgia” is the final track of the album and leaves listeners to ponder on the past, present, and future. The song was inspired by a conversation she had with her dad in Barcelona while on tour. It serves as a reminder to focus on the present instead of being so scared of what’s to come in the future or dwelling on the past. “Hit me fast and slow / Funny thing about nostalgia / Didn’t show up ’til I lost ya (Ooh) / Didn’t show up ’til I lost ya (Ooh)”