Tate McRae, 21-year old singer, songwriter and dancer, released her third studio album “So Close To What” a week ago. McRae’s sound is undeniably and addictively pure pop, bringing back 2000’s era sounds. The sleek, synth-pop sound combined with her hallmark percussive beats make for distinctively danceable songs, making for an album that is both fun to listen and move to.
Originally gaining attention as a finalist on “So You Think You Can Dance,” McRae is often known as a standout dancer in the pop world, especially with viral TikTok dances to songs like “2 hands.” Her third album asks listeners to see beneath her dancing pop star exterior with a new depth to her lyrics.
The opening track “Miss possessive” begins with some assertive words from Sydney Sweeney — “No, seriously, get your hands off my man.” McRae exudes confidence through the rest of the track as she tells admirers that “some fights you never gon’ win, just keep your eyes off him.” The bold lyrics set the tone for an album that McRae said was focused on “stepping into my 21-year-old woman self.”
In line with stepping into a new era of life, much of the album presumably explores McRae’s recent relationship with The Kid LAROI. Track 9, “I know love,” features him on a verse, and they sing about knowing love when they feel it. The single “2 hands” follows a similar theme of upbeat, infatuated explorations of the first stages of a relationship — “I just want your two hands on me, at all times, baby,” McRae sings.
Previous fans of hers might hear a noticeable difference between these songs and her older ones, which tended to explore themes of heartbreak more than anything. Her last album, “THINK LATER,” predominantly featured the aftermath of a breakup. Here, there is an unmistakable feeling of falling into, rather than out of, love.
While McRae’s outlook on love has shifted from the previous album to this one, she maintains the unparalleled dancing prowess that is an integral part of her image. She shows listeners that though our 20’s are a time of change, some things can grow with us. In fact, in the newly released music video for “Revolving door,” McRae’s dancing is the star of the show. In it, she and others dance to the song in heels, surrounded by 15 doors, each symbolizing one of the 15 tracks on the new album.
Though her dancing is entertaining, there is a generic aspect to the production that lacks originality. Her sound involves an emphasis on percussion, but it feels repetitive in the album at times. Songs like “I know love” and “Means I care” open with claps and snares that are incredibly similar to each other. The beats are crisp and snappy, but share a slightly synthetic edge to them, as if they are mechanical. This basic formula of rhythm and synth is nothing new to the pop world.
Nevertheless, McRae makes up for it with lyrics in songs like “Dear god” and “Signs,” which capture a side of life that feels shiny and new. The high points of these songs feature feelings like longing, jealousy, and frustration, evoking the intensity of life as a 21 year old woman, not just a 21 year old pop star.
While these songs are framed in a way relatable to all young women, do not let them distract you from the more personal stories she tells about life in the spotlight. Track 5, “Purple lace bra,” is a standout of the album. Instead of a synth pop sound, a soaring violin starts off the song.
“Would you hear me more if I whispered in your ear?” She asks in the song. “‘Cause my body position is determined if you’re listenin’.”
The lyrics tell a story of a lover who only listens when she is undressed, but McRae revealed in an interview with comedian Jake Shane that the song is actually a metaphor addressing how the media focuses on her body rather than her artistry.
“You’re seeing like these videos of me dancing and you’re not listening to me as a songwriter, which is like the most important part to me,” McRae said.
McRae’s lyrics have drawn in fans since her first Billboard Hot 100 hit, “You Broke Me First.” However, in her rise to stardom, this element of her artistry has sometimes been overshadowed — her 2024 music video for “It’s ok I’m ok” received backlash for being provocative and revealing.
Now, “Purple lace bra” is her response. McRae does not want to be branded as a singer whose only appeal is her sexuality, and here, she asks why a woman cannot be sexy and intelligent at the same time.
As a whole, the album explores these themes of frustration and growth as a young woman. McRae also opened up about the title “So Close To What” during her interview with Shane. She explained that the phrase captures the feeling of the question, “what next?” In the interview, she expanded on how her life felt driven by this question.
“The strive for perfection, the strive for the next thing, the strive for finding who you are is a never ending loop,” she said.
“So Close To What” walks the fine line between catchy pop songs and opening up about the vulnerabilities of being a young woman in the present day. It is an almost perfect balance of the highs and lows of love, and feelings that have nothing to do with boys. McRae’s third album shows her at her most confident, reaching new heights of vulnerability and power in her lyricism.
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