Tate McRae:

singer, dancer, and rising popstar, also dubbed “Modern-day Britney Spears,” is crushing today’s music charts with her new album titled So Close to What. Her 2020 single “You Broke Me First” written at the young age of 16 piqued the interest of the music industry, while “Greedy” kickstarted her fame and cemented her as a global popstar. McRae is climbing the charts with her new album and is only going up from here.

As I will be attending her third concert this summer, watching her go from the Fillmore in 2023 for her I Used to Think I Could Fly tour to the Xcel Energy Center in 2025 for her Miss Possessive tour is a huge accomplishment to be proud of. After her huge success in her second studio album Think Later, McRae has trumped many other pop singers as she has been nominated for “Artist of the Year,” “Single of the Year,” “Breakthrough Artist of the Year,” and many other prestigious awards. As of August 2024, McRae performed at Madison Square Garden, her first arena show. In March 2025, she is starting her all-area Miss Possessive Tour named after the album’s first track.

Before her album, she released three singles: “It’s ok I’m ok,” “2 Hands,” and “Sports Car.” These songs were without-a-doubt hits for her fans and the world, with all singles reaching the “Billboard Hot 100” within days. After teasing “It’s ok I’m ok” at Lollapalooza along with “2 hands” at her final shows in Australia, the wait for not only these singles but the album was unbearable. However, just weeks before the release, almost all of the album was leaked, leaving myself and all her fans devastated and ultimately leaving McRae with nothing but to alter the lyrics of her songs and hope for the best; however, the modified songs did not disappoint.

So Close to What, released on February 21, 2025, consists of 15 tracks totaling 42 minutes, a jump in minutes from her last two albums. The title of the record is named after the feeling of driving towards nothing, encapsulating the feeling of Tate turning 21. This new album was a big level-up for McRae as she explores a new side of herself, leaving the “sad girl” era behind, and entering the next chapter of her life and career with full-blown confidence and a new level of maturity in her latest record.

Although the album has many impressive and lyrically diverse songs, here are some of my favorites. Her opening track, “Miss Possessive,” is an intriguing and confident opener, a far stretch from her first album. “Miss Possessive” tells the story of a girl who is crossing the line with McRae’s new man. This is a great song to start with, setting the tone for the rest of the album.

Track two, “Revolving Door,” is my favorite song on the album. “Revolving Door” focuses on the concept of going back to a toxic relationship again and again, no matter the consequences. As the song comes to a close, McRae becomes frantic and overwhelmed, restating “I need a minute” multiple times, feeling the repercussions of going back to toxicity. The “Revolving Door” music video is undoubtedly my favorite music video she has ever produced. Tate has incorporated the most choreography into this music video, which I loved. As the melody dies down within the last seconds of the song, the music restarts as if she is starting again, reiterating the “Revolving Door” theme.

Track three, “Bloodonmyhands,” featuring Flo Milli, is another masterpiece and is high on my rankings. Before listening, I was a little hesitant to see a rapper featured on one of her songs, but their collab did not disappoint. Flo Milli’s short but sweet lines were a perfect upbeat and unique addition to the song and a changeup in the “typical” Tate McRae songwriting.

“Dear God,” Tate’s fourth track on the album, is another success. This upbeat song is a plea for help, asking for guidance to get this certain person’s memories out of her head. The lyrics also delve deeper into hinting at a mental struggle of trying to let go of someone toxic while dealing with the weight of her emotions. Ultimately, the outcry for help in this song is what truly makes it special.

The next track, “Purple Lace Bra,” is a provocative song that has certainly caught the internet’s eye. This song is a reference to her “It’s ok I’m ok” music video, where she appears walking the streets of New York City with a purple lace bra on. While many fans loved the music video, she received off-putting comments from both the media and her fans, later persuading her to write this song. Most people may interpret this song as one to apply to a relationship; however, this song has an underlying message of the hot and cold relationship between Tate and the media.

Finally, track 13, “Greenlight,” is the second-to-last track on the album. Greenlight has once again another great underlying message to it. This song tells the story of when you’re trying to get into a new relationship and you have all the signs and signals telling you “you’re ok,” but you are holding yourself back, going back to the metaphor of sitting at a green light, but you just can’t go.

So Close to What was undeniably Tate McRae’s best album she produced, specifically showcasing her vocal talent, songwriting skills, and personal growth. This album is full of standout tracks that are stuck in your head for days. Overall, I was beyond impressed, and my expectations were exceeded for this album. Tate never fails to rise to the expectation and I am so excited to see what she will do next!