Tate McRae has been a hot topic on social media since her newest album, “So Close To What” which dropped on February 21, 2025. Between attempting to replicate her backbend in the “Revolving Door” music video and YouTube videos of her as a kid reemerging, everyone is talking about the triple-threat pop star.
McRae is a Canadian singer-songwriter and dancer. Most know her from her recent rise to fame, which began during the pandemic not long after she signed with RCA Records in 2017. Some people, however, have been with McRae from the start.
In 2011, McRae started a YouTube channel to showcase her dance skills. Later, in 2017, at the age of 13, she began her famous series on YouTube called Create With Tate.
Create With Tate is where McRae posted weekly videos in which she would sing cover songs and come up with choreography. The channel later became a safe space for McRae to turn her poetry into music.
When she began songwriting, she would film videos anywhere she could. She built a fanbase from her songwriting challenge videos where she would create songs based on words, prompts or feelings.
The first song that went viral from McRae’s channel was “One Day.” The video of McRae producing this song has 41 million views and is what kickstarted her successful career.
McRae has been referred to as this generation’s pop star since the beginning of her career. This is due to her high-energy performances and sexy choreography. The media has gone so far as to compare her to 90’s pop princess, Britney Spears.
One of the most iconic moments in McRae’s career that led to this comparison was when she wore a headset mic. She wore the headset mic during her show at Madison Square Garden to debut her song “It’s ok I’m ok.”
Though McRae has earned a name for herself from her popstar persona and choreography, she wants fans to know that she has more depth beyond what people see on the surface.
McRae’s new album, “So Close To What,” was written with the intention of opening up and being more vulnerable with her fans. She wanted to use the album to share her “growing pains” and the hardships she has faced while becoming an adult.
“So Close To What” is supposed to replicate what it is like to work so hard for something and never get there. This idea came from McRae’s need for perfection and always feeling like she has to do more even though she’s accomplished so much.
This attitude has pushed McRae to give her fans three studio albums in three years. She has a drive unlike any other, which is apparent in all the work she puts out.
McRae has admitted to being awkward and shy at the beginning of her career. “So Close To What” has forced her to break out of her shell and become who she wants to be rather than what others want her to be.
In an episode of Therapuss with Jake Shane, McRae told Shane, “If I was beating around the bush before, I wasn’t beating around the bush this time.”
The album features powerful songs like “Purple Lace Bra” which taps into McRae’s first-hand experience with the difficulties of being a woman in the music industry. The song goes in-depth on how women feel the need to sexualize themselves to be seen, heard and taken seriously.
Over the last eight years, fans have been able to grow alongside McRae and see her evolve into the powerhouse she is today. She has inspired young women like herself and will continue to do so as she continues to grow into her authentic self.
Support Student Media
Hi! I’m Hannah Planey, A Magazine’s editor-in-chief. My staff and I are committed to bringing you the most important and entertaining news from the realms of fashion, beauty and culture. We are full-time students and hard-working journalists. While we get support from the student media fee and earned revenue such as advertising, both of those continue to decline. Your generous gift of any amount will help enhance our student experience as we grow into working professionals. Please go here to donate to A Magazine.
