2024 was a massive year for Tate McRae. Her song “Greedy” racked up over a billion streams on Spotify alone, a number that was unimaginable to the pop sensation even as she saw shows sell out during her live tour. Today marks the release of her highly anticipated new album, So Close To What, via RCA Records. Featuring the new hit “Sports Car” and “It’s ok I’m ok,” which reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Pop chart, the new body of work showcases a more mature and introspective McRae than ever before. 

V spoke with the Canadian artist about the new music, as well as how she’s staying grounded in 2025. 

Mathias Rosenzweig: Let’s dive right in and talk about the new album, which comes out on the 21st. Once the album was finalized and packaged, did you notice any recurring themes in your lyrics? Or do you feel it’s more of a mix of topics you wanted to cover?

Tate McRae: No, I definitely found myself subconsciously revisiting the same concepts in different ways and at different points in my life. About halfway through writing the album, I realized where my head was—through my relationships, career, and personal journey. Everything coincided, and that’s when I settled on the title and overall concept.

MR: How long was this album in the works? Was it mostly throughout 2024?

TM: Yeah, it started at the beginning of 2024 and finished in early 2025.

MR: So it hasn’t even been that long since you completed it! Do you feel, looking at the album now, like you can better understand what you were going through last year? 

TM: That’s exactly how I felt. By the end, I realized I had been talking about the same thing. I felt like a walking contradiction—indecisive, some days feeling confident and sexy, other days the total opposite. Some days I was excited about love, and other days I was terrified of it. I was on this seesaw of changing opinions, and I thought, maybe this is what being 21 is about—constant dilemmas. Even if I was talking about a relationship or my career, it all seemed to stem from the same place in my subconscious.

MR: I’m 34, and I can say—my therapist would echo this—that indecision is just part of being human. Pop music often presents things as clean-cut or escapist, but contradictions make an album relatable because life isn’t black and white. One day you want to fall in love, the next your friends are all that matter. One day you want to have fun, the next you want to focus on your career. Life has layers, and it sounds like your album does too.

TM: Exactly. Some days, I’d come off tour feeling so in my element—confident, dialed in, performing at my best. That version of me wrote a song like Signs, where I’m saying, Can you just read my mind? Then, the next day, I’d write Nostalgia, completely diving into the most self-deprecating parts of my personality. The contrast could be as small as a Saturday versus a Sunday, but that’s just how I was feeling. I think that’s what makes an album beautiful.

MR: When writing, do you think about what you’re comfortable sharing publicly versus what you want to keep private? Fans love intimate songs, but there’s always a boundary to consider.

TM: I pride myself on honesty in my songwriting. I’m already a private person—I have a small circle, and I don’t share much. Often, I don’t even know how I feel about someone until I write about them. That’s how I find perspective. The beauty of songwriting is that no one has to know who or what a song is about. It’s a feeling, a tiny idea that can be expanded into something huge. The mystery excites me. These are just stories, just songs. I don’t have to explain them because sometimes they’re not that straightforward.

MR: It’s a collage of experiences. Do you have a song on this album that feels like your favorite or most personal?

TM: “Purple Lace Bra.” I got to work with Emile Haynie, one of my all-time favorite producers. I’d wanted to work with him for years. He sent me the production, and I had no notes—one of the best feelings ever because usually, I go back and forth with endless revisions. It felt so personal and perfectly captured how I was feeling. We even had live strings, which made it even more special.

MR: Your rise to fame has been steady, but now you have a solid fanbase eagerly waiting for this album. Does that expectation influence your creative process, or are you able to shut it out?

TM: My career has grown in bursts since I was 13, so I never had that “overnight success” moment. Because of that, I still have trouble comprehending how many people are listening. Sometimes, I can’t process why people show up to my shows. I’ve never had a moment where I thought, “Oh wow, I’m big now.” It’s been gradual, so my brain still struggles to grasp the scale of it all. I don’t focus on numbers or streams. The pressure I feel comes from within—I’m a perfectionist. I always want to outdo my last project, push myself further. That’s how I measure success—by my own growth.

MR: I remember seeing clips of your tour after Gen V came out, and you seemed genuinely surprised every time people showed up to shows. 

TM: I actually am surprised every time. When we put tickets on sale for this tour, it was nerve-wracking. Seeing it sell out, I thought, “Wow, I didn’t realize that was even possible.”

MR: Looking ahead, I assume more touring is coming. How does this next phase feel, and what’s the creative process like for your live show?

TM: We’re just starting to build the show—working on the setlist, designing the stage, and mapping out the lighting. It’s a lot of discussions about feelings, different acts of the show, and how we want everything to flow. Since the tour starts in May, we’re in the early stages now, but it’ll come together quickly.

MR: May isn’t far away! Did you set a New Year’s resolution?

TM: Not exactly, but I had a conversation with a friend where we asked each other how we’d grown in the past year. I realized that last year, I didn’t feel like I had grown much personally. I was busy with touring and felt foggy. So this year, I want to change something—whether it’s being more present, picking up a new hobby, or just shifting my perspective. By the end of the year, I want to feel like I’ve evolved in some way.

MR: That’s a great approach. Lastly, are there any artists you’re really into right now?

TM: The four dancers in my new music video—Tassia, Keely, Yuli, and Stevie—are incredible. Music-wise, I really like Sailorr. She’s a new artist, and I think she’s so talented.

MR: Amazing. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat. Congrats on the new album!

TM: Thank you! Talk soon!