The writers at Atwood Magazine explore the confident and intricate emotions found in Tate McRae's third studio album, ‘So Close to What,’ highlighting her alluring dance synths and profoundly clever lyrics.
This discussion features Atwood writers Annaliese Baker, Bárbara Martínez, Emma Rayder, Josh Weiner, and Sam Franzini!
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To begin, what is your connection to Tate McRae’s music?
Bárbara: My relationship with Tate McRae’s music is relatively recent. I kept hearing “Greedy” everywhere, and when “2 hands” was released last year, I liked both the beat and her vocals. Upon further exploration, I found not only are her beats captivating to younger audiences, but she also adds a vibrant energy to the rhythms as a talented dancer. When I discovered “you broke me first,” I realized she was more than just an up-and-coming pop artist; she has a depth that some others often overlook.
Annaliese: I’ve been a fan of Tate McRae for nearly a decade. Both of us were competitive dancers, so I viewed her as the “gold standard.” “She’s All I Wanna Be” was released after my first college heartbreak, and it seemed to embody themes present in her releases during my early adulthood. Her music is relatable and enjoyable, combining poignant lyrics with an upbeat dance sound. I loved ‘think later,’ but I was eager for a full dance album from her because her live performances are electric, featuring choreography from Sean Bankhead and production from Ryan Tedder – which we certainly get with So Close to What.
Sam: I really only started to pay attention after “greedy” gained popularity on Twitter. It was evident from the energy of the song that she is influenced by talented dance-pop and R&B icons like Britney Spears and Janet Jackson, and I was instantly drawn in. I reviewed the album that featured “greedy,” THINK LATER, which was mostly mediocre, but I watched her closely and became invested after “It’s ok I’m ok.”
Josh: My introduction to Tate McRae isn’t particularly unique. Similar to Bárbara and Sam, though unlike Annaliese, I first noticed her when “Greedy” became a hit in the past year. It's great to see her follow up “Greedy” with more hits recently, particularly “It’s OK I’m OK” and “Sports Car.”
Emma: I thought I was new to Tate McRae until I realized she sings the breathy vocals on one of my favorite college-era songs, “you broke me first.” Fast forward five years, and I’ve started to see her name everywhere. Many people have strong opinions about her (unsurprisingly, given her age, gender, and appearance), but my view is quite straightforward – I find her music enjoyable and catchy.
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What are your first impressions and reactions to So Close to What?
Sam: Fun, fun, fun. Sometimes, it’s challenging to engage with albums that are intellectually heavy, but I appreciate that Tate is here to enjoy herself. The music is catchy, danceable, and doesn’t take itself too seriously, while still being solid in terms of melodies. Plus, she's improving as a songwriter!
Bárbara: It’s enjoyable. People can dance, listen, and have a great time with it, and it’s clear that Tate enjoys it as well. It’s a dance-pop, sometimes hip-hop album that showcases talent in both singing and songwriting.
Josh: “Fun fun fun” and “[easy to] have a good time with it” are excellent descriptions for this album – thanks, Sam and Bárbara! When So Close To What was released last Friday, I was on the final stretch of my nine-day road trip across Quebec (I made it to Mt. Tremblant for some skiing that day), and I was trying to listen to a variety of Canadian artists in the car as I traveled across the province – Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Alanis Morissette, and Avril Lavigne all made the playlist. I was thrilled to add Tate McRae to that list, and indeed, an energetic and pop-filled record like So Close To What gave me a much-needed boost as I wrapped up the final leg of my journey from Montreal to Boston on Sunday night!
Annaliese: This is the first full dance album Tate McRae has produced. I completely resonate with Josh's assessment of the talented Canadian female artists who have provided us with stellar breakup/revenge anthems over the past decades; McRae is surely among them. So Close To What is an album I knew I’d want to hear on a night out with friends and dance to – it highlights her vocals, stage presence, and overall persona, enhancing
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Writers at Atwood Magazine explore the nuanced and self-assured emotions present in Tate McRae's third studio album 'So Close to What,' highlighting everything from her seductive dance synths to her painfully sharp lyrics and more.