Tate McRae Breaks Records With New Album So Close to What
Pop music has extended its reign as Tate McRae‘s glossy, early 2000s-inspired album So Close to What debuts at number one on the Billboard Hot 200 albums chart.
Despite the album leak a month before the release, after one week of tracking, McRae now holds the “biggest debut week for a studio album by a woman in five months,” a record that was previously held by Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet.
So Close to What is the former So You Think You Can Dance competitor’s third musical effort, following the success of 2023’s Think Later, which featured the singles “Greedy” and “Exes.” The Canadian triple threat started her musical career in 2017 at the age of 13, posting original songs, going from being bullied in school for posting her music on YouTube, to being the next big pop star.
She admitted, “When you get made fun of for something and karma ends up working with you in the right way, it’s always a very, very satisfying feeling.”
Her third album is supported by the singles “It’s Ok I’m Ok,” “Revolving Door,” and “Sports Car,” all of which have sultry, choreographed videos to match. The album also features verses from rapper Flo Milli and her boyfriend Kid Laroi.
So Close to What appears to have been partially crafted by some of the finest hands in pop as well; Ryan Tedder of One Republic has production credits; consistent Selena Gomez collaborator and friend Julia Michaels and Ilya, who produced several Ariana Grande songs are also credited.
She will also promote the album on the sold-out “Miss Possessive Tour” with Zara Larsson later this month.
tate has some sort of pop formula we don’t know about. pic.twitter.com/vkwQy0JKsh
— ؘ (@tatemcraves) September 26, 2024
Sonically, critics have likened the album to the works of The Pussycat Dolls and Britney Spears, the latter of which she finds both “flattering and scary.” She commented, “It’s such a crazy statement because no one can compare to Britney Spears. It’s like comparing someone to Michael Jackson! That’s the blueprint!”
The pop star is one of a few musical artists who have developed a strong fan base thanks to social media, specifically TikTok, where she currently has 11.9 million followers. That social media presence has translated into tangible success, similar to that of Doechii and Doja Cat.
She rose to prominence on the app during the Covid-19 lockdown with moody, at times alt-pop songs that cultivated into her debut EP All The Things I Never Said. However, the catchy, bubbly pop sound of “Greedy” that caught the attention of the world, and arguably changed her life.
It was a song she originally didn’t want to release; now it’s the most streamed song in her discography. The songstress commented, “I was scared, I kept asking myself if I really could put it out, thinking that “This could potentially be the worst release in my career,” but I couldn’t refuse the sound at the beginning of the song, it’s so new to me, and that ecstasy was too good to stray away from.”
Celebrity choreographer Sean Bankhead, who worked on the “Greedy” video, praised McRae’s versatility and her background in dance. “It’s really refreshing when I can work with an artist who can understand not only my more intricate timing and musicality, but push them to really find a place where they are in command of the camera and the stage.”
With a number one album, a world tour, and an SNL performance under her belt, triple threat Tate McRae is the newest fresh face of pop music. While the singles have yet to match the success of “Greedy,” it’s safe to say that she is here to stay.
So Close to What is out now and available for streaming.
