So Close to What: Tate McRae’s Pop Throwback

Tate McRae’s popularity has only grown since her appearance on So You Think You Can Dance (2016), which marked the start of her career. She has since extended her talents to singing, releasing her debut record, I Used to Think I Could Fly, in 2021. Her sophomore album, Think Later (2023), was a breakthrough for her music career and her first release to debut amongst the top 10 albums on the Billboard Charts. Her most recent album, So Close to What (2025), is another triumph for the Canadian singer. The record follows themes of love and identity across 16 tracks. Despite the album’s reliance on conventional pop motifs, it stands out as a record that shows McRae’s maturity, both as an artist and as an individual. The album explores McRae’s growth overall, reflecting on how she is perceived by the public and also paying homage to her influences.

So Close to What draws heavy inspiration from the 2000s and artists such as Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. The album is a combination of dance and R&B, combining classic beats with new, more original additions. The opening track of the album, “Miss Possessive,” uses a drum-heavy beat reminiscent of the ones used by earlier artists, but it samples a voice memo from Sydney Sweeney to add a unique twist. These themes of combining the old with new ideas are embedded in other songs as well, including “Revolving Door,” which features some of the beats and vocals emphasized during the 2000s. The fast-tempo, powerful bass “bloodonmyhands”—a collaboration between Flo Milli and McRae—is influenced by Miami bass, a style of music that arose in the 1990s and 2000s. Additionally, McRae’s vocals are also a throwback to the 2000s, focusing on breathy, sultry tones through tracks such as “It’s ok I’m ok.” Nevertheless, there is a lot of musical repetition; many songs are so similar that they blend into each other. In “bloodonmyhands,” Flo Milli seems to overpower McRae. Though the song is well-written and produced, it lacks originality. Despite its stylistic homogeneity, the album is still sonically pleasing due to its catchy bass and appealing vocals.

Lyrically, the album is an example of McRae’s personal growth, addressing more mature topics than in her past projects. Compared to her last album, which focused on physical desires and attraction, this album goes in-depth about issues in relationships. Whilst the album focuses heavily on romantic struggles, it also addresses McRae’s relationship with the public. Her song “Purple Lace Bra” may come across as more sultry and sexual, but the lyrics actually reveal how McRae feels as though she is constantly misperceived. She talks about how she feels unseen and ignored by her fans, emphasizing this in lines such as “Would you hear me more if I whispered in your ear?” Additionally, she covers the truth of some of her past relationships, highlighting how her reality isn’t the glamourized one shown to the world. Her songs are more raw and emotionally sincere than previous ones, making them more personal to both her and the listener. Multiple tracks, such as “Revolving Door” and “bloodonmyhands,” talk about the inescapability of her toxic relationships, with lyrics like “But I keep coming back / Like a revolving door.” Even with the exploration of new themes, some lyrics are redundant and surface-level, undermining McRae’s attempts to expand from her sophomore album. Songs such as “No I’m Not In Love” are filled with superficial lines, including “I’m not bothered looking up your exes,” that take away from the depth of the entire album.

Overall, So Close to What represents a major step forward from McRae’s previous works. While certain songs lack uniqueness, the project is cohesive and well-produced, making it worth a listen. The catchy beats of the tracks create an engaging and entertaining album, compensating for its various shortcomings. So Close to What is an ambitious album that showcases McRae’s growing maturity and reveals great potential for her artistry.