April 8, 2025
By Mariah Allen
Staff Writer
“So Close to What,” Tate McRae’s long-awaited third studio album, redefines pop music with its pounding beats and catchy melodies. Ad-libs and instruments are skillfully layered to elicit a different feeling for each song on the Canadian pop singer’s best album yet.
A popular song on the 16-track album is “Revolving Door.” In this viral track, McRae explains her struggles when returning to her ex. The track features a heavy, bouncy beat that energizes listeners and continues through the chorus with synth melodies.
Singing, “But I keep comin’ back like a revolvin’ door / Say I couldn’t want you less, but I just want you more,” McRae uses the symbol of a revolving door to communicate the never-ending cycle she believes she cannot escape.
With “Dear God,” McRae explores her need to forget her past lover as she prays to God for help. The track opens with a heavy, punching beat, and the chorus has moving, bright synths.
In the chorus, McRae sings, “Dear God / Take his kiss right out of my brain / Take the pleasure out of my pain,” conveying the addiction and manipulation she struggles with. She does not want to get stuck in this negative cycle, so she prays she does not return to her toxic relationship.
The track features a heavy, bouncy beat that energizes listeners and continues through the chorus with synth melodies.
A track that deserves more recognition is “Purple Lace Bra,” which opens with beautiful strings and transitions into a pounding beat with heavy synths. The sound of the strings grows louder in the chorus as McRae’s vocal ad-libs expand.
In the bridge, McRae sings, “I’m losin’ my mind, I’m losin’ my head / You only listen when I’m undressed / Hear what you like and none of the rest.” McRae expresses her frustration at being valued solely for her appearance. Asserting that people only listen to her when she shows her body, McRae raises concerns about a widespread issue requiring more attention.
McRae’s rise to fame began in 2016 when she was the first Canadian finalist on the 13th season of “So You Think You Can Dance.” In 2020, she established herself as a force in the music industry with her hit, “You Broke Me First,” which gained traction on TikTok and reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“So Close to What” reveals McRae’s progression as a musical artist. Her music has evolved from dark bedroom pop to her most cohesive, mature and refreshing album yet. With this album, McRae proves she is not just another singer in the industry—she is the voice of pop’s next era.
