Known primarily for her strong dance background, specifically for being a finalist on the dance reality TV show “So You Think You Can Dance,” Canadian dancer-turned-singer-songwriter Tate McRae has taken the world by storm in recent years. Ever since her 2023 hit single “greedy” and studio album “THINK LATER” went viral on TikTok, fans have been eagerly waiting for her new music.
On Feb. 21, McRae finally delivered the album fans were anticipating for months: “So Close To What.” She had announced the album’s release in November 2024, promoting lead singles “It’s ok I’m ok,” “2 hands,” and most recently, “Sports car,” leading up to the album’s debut.
McRae’s sound is reminiscent of early 2000s music as she found inspiration from Timbaland, The Neptunes, and Britney Spears. McRae also incorporates electronic and R&B beats to create smooth, upbeat music which she can easily perform to onstage.
“So Close To What” features 16 songs, one of which was released as a bonus track a few days after the album’s release. Overall, the album reflects on moving on from a toxic relationship while also falling in love with someone new. Being a highly-skilled dancer, a majority of her songs are dance pop, which is a big change in comparison to her ballad-type songs she is known for.
A handful of the songs on this album reflect on McRae’s relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player Cole Sillinger. “Dear god,” emphasizes the idea of wanting to forget about an ex, and has some of the smoothest R&B-inspired beats across the whole album. McRae also released “Siren sounds” on Monday, Feb. 24 due to popular demand from fans. She sings about how her and her ex’s relationship was bound to end, using a metaphor of living in a burning house and listening to siren sounds while being together.
“Revolving door” is one of the highlights of the album, comparing McRae wanting to go back to her ex to a revolving door. She released a music video for this song along with the album, which showcased her dancing skills and killer expressions. The beats of this song felt surreal, as if the listener is trying to escape from the vicious cycle of running back and forth from a toxic relationship.
“Purple lace bra,” with instrumentals similar to Addison Rae’s hit song “Diet Pepsi,” reflects on how McRae has been objectified in the past, both by the media and her ex-boyfriend. Songs like “It’s ok I’m ok” and “bloodonmyhands,” featuring Flo Milli, show that McRae has healed from this relationship and is ready to move on.
However, this album was not just about unhealthy relationships; McRae released many songs about being in her happiest and healthiest relationship with Australian rapper and singer-songwriter The Kid LAROI. One of the most anticipated songs of the album, “I know love,” features The Kid LAROI and channels a feel-good, upbeat mood which resembles pop music of the late 2010s.
A music video was also released for this song this past Wednesday, featuring both artists filming with a MacBook and using many Photo Booth filters in a recording studio. Although this song was not sonically the strongest, it is refreshing to see McRae be truly happy.
Two of the most popular songs from the album, “Miss possessive” and “Sports car,” are the epitome of 2000s music and have made many listeners across the internet nostalgic of that era. Both songs, as well as “2 hands,” reflect on different aspects of her relationship with The Kid LAROI, such as feeling possessive over him and being affectionate.
McRae also showcases vulnerability through this album through tracks “No I’m not in love, “Greenlight,” and “Means I care.” She sings about the difficulties of healing from a past relationship and adopting toxic habits, such as pushing away from the people she loves or denying her feelings. She also sings about how nerve-racking it is to confess her feelings to someone new.
Overall, “So Close to What” is McRae’s sonically best and most cohesive album to date. Her songwriting has improved since her previous album as she is now able to convey a story through her songs. They are authentic to her and she has developed a sultry, mature sound both through the instrumentals and her voice.
However, some of her songs feel as if they are pure imitations of 2000s music rather than original work. With each album release, McRae is getting closer and closer to discovering her style of music, and she seems to be on the brink of finding it soon.
