Tate McRae Finds Her Voice in “So Close To What”
Photo via Instagram
Tate McRae explores her more mature side with her third album So Close To What. With her leading singles “It’s ok I’m ok”, “2 hands” and “Sports car” she was able to introduce a more feminine and mature sound to her fans. McRae is able to channel pop and r&b hit makers of the early 2000’s such as Timbaland and Nelly Furtado, with heavy production and light and airy vocals. The name So Close To What could refer to her feeling like she’s racing herself to a future that she is unsure about.
The opening track “Miss possessive” opens the album with a strong message about being possessive of a partner. The song starts with a voicemail that captures the audience’s attention immediately. The lyrics point to a physical reaction to recognizing that someone is interested in your partner. “2 hands” could be considered the follow-up to that interaction as it dives into the physical side of a relationship. This goes along with the idea that while words mean a lot, actions mean so much more. The next run of songs “Revolving door”, “bloodonmyhands (feat. Flo Milli)”, and “Dear God” feel like journal entries of someone in a toxic relationship. Starting with the feeling of constantly going back to someone even though they are bad news. Then, towards the end recognizing that maybe it was self-sabotage. “Dear God” is a song that describes the feeling of wanting someone back but knowing that they were toxic or bad for you.
“Purple lace bra” is a personal favorite because it is a complex song with a couple different meanings. Right off the bat it could feel like a toxic relationship where it feels like the only way someone is being heard is through hyper-sexualization. The other meaning this could have is about the media and how sometimes fans and commentators only listen to certain artists if they are shocking or sexy enough.
“Sports car” was the last single that was released before the album dropped. It garnered some attention on social media, specifically TikTok, with choreographer Kelly Sweeney creating a viral dance that even Tate herself posted. Track eight, “Signs” explores the idea of having a partner understand the subtle changes in behavior. The note change at the end was such a fun surprise.
“I know love (feat. The Kid LAROI)” is the ninth track on the album and the second feature of the album. The playful back and forth of Laroi and Tate singing feels lighthearted and sweet. “Like I do” discusses the interesting feeling of having someone copy you. In the bridge there is a spoken part where she questions the person's motives. “It’s ok I’m ok” was the first single released for this era. The audience is introduced to the fun club-like dance electronic sound that is reminiscent of her previous record, Think Later.
“No I’m not in love” has lyrics that point to having to remind someone that they are not the center of your world. The falsetto in the bridge adds a lift to the tail end of the song giving it a playful undertone. “Means I care” has a fun clapping beat behind it that boosts the vocals in a really cool way. The lyrics have a very mature outlook on cutting people off. She explains that she has previously understood her actions to be the most destructive when she chooses to stay. So, when she chooses to leave, she is putting the interests of the other person above her own better judgement. The second to last track, “Greenlight”, has McRae talking about the uncertainty of being in a healthy relationship after being in so many toxic ones. The chorus has heavy lines with metaphors about seeing the green light in the relationship but not being able to move. “Nostalgia” is by far her most honest on the album. She talks about how she feels insane nostalgia for a relationship and how her environment shaped the way she loves people. So Close To What is Tate’s introduction into full blown self-expression.