Why Tate McRae Says Working With Boyfriend The Kid Laroi on New Album Was ‘A Little Stressful’

Tate McRae is stepping into a new era with her third studio album, So Close to What, set for release Friday. To celebrate, McRae partnered with Spotify for an intimate listening party on Tuesday night at The Living Room in Los Angeles, where 40 fans got an exclusive first listen.

From the moment the first song played, the energy in the room was electric. Fans were dancing, jumping and fully immersed, reacting in real time as McRae unveiled her most personal and dynamic project yet.

The night wasn’t just about the music. It also featured a Q&A session with McRae’s best friend, social media personality Jake Shane. Their dynamic was effortless, filled with playful banter, inside jokes and genuine excitement for the album. Shane, one of McRae’s biggest supporters, couldn’t hide his enthusiasm, especially for his favorite track of the night. Before “Signs” played, he hyped it up to the room, blurting out, “It’s so good!” McRae laughed, adding, “It’s a really fun, sarcastic pop song. … I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.” The second it started, the entire room was moving. The track is pure spring and summer energy — made for blasting in the car, top down, cruising with friends.

McRae’s So Close to What delivers a mix of vulnerability and high-energy anthems, showing her evolution as an artist. One of the biggest crowd favorites of the night was “Revolving Door.” The second it started, fans latched onto it, jumping and dancing without hesitation. It’s a song that demands movement, a full-blown party record with pulsing energy. The room was completely alive, and it was impossible not to picture this track blowing up on playlists and club remixes.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, “Purple Lace Bra” slowed things down, bringing an introspective, emotional energy. McRae described it as her response to the media, a raw and deeply personal track. Speaking on the theme of the album, she explained, “The album title encapsulates how I felt turning 21 … feeling like you’re finally a woman while also wrestling with how the media portrays you.”

Then there was “Green Light,” a track about the exhilarating-yet-terrifying feeling of falling in love again. It captures the tension of hesitation and excitement, like waiting at a green light, unsure whether to move forward. The mix of vulnerability and an infectious beat makes it an instant fan favorite — one of those songs that lingers long after it ends.

But the highlight of the night: “Bloodonmyhands,” featuring Flo Milli. The second the beat dropped, the entire room erupted. People stood up, danced and completely lost themselves in the music. It was giving summer 2016 — chaotic, fun, completely unfiltered energy. And Flo Milli, she ate. Her delivery, her confidence, her flow — she brought exactly what the song needed, and the crowd’s reaction said it all.

During the chat, McRae opened up about much of the album leaking ahead of her release date, which she called a “f—ing bummer.” “I was just so devastated because I’m like, ‘There’s nothing I can do about this.’” McRae combated the leak by getting back in the studio and writing some new songs to add to the project, including what would become the Flo Milli collab, plus “Like I Do.”

McRae also gave fans insight into her creative process, revealing that her alter ego played a big role in shaping some of the songs. “Tatiana, my alter ego, wrote a lot of the songs on the album — including ‘Sports Car,’” she shared of her latest single.

One of the most anticipated collaborations is “I Know Love,” her song with boyfriend The Kid Laroi, which came together in a way neither of them expected. “It was a really funny process, because me and Laroi have never really, like, taken each other seriously,” she laughed. “You know when you’re in a relationship and you sing around each other, but you don’t really, like, sing? So it was a little stressful being in the studio singing and writing in front of him, but it was a cool experience to watch him in his process.”

McRae closes the album with “Nostalgia,” a deeply personal track that lingers long after the final note. It’s the perfect ending to an album that takes listeners through every high and low.

The listening party proved that So Close to What will be a defining moment in McRae’s career. Fans connected instantly with the songs, and the energy in the room was undeniable. With her Miss Possessive Tour kicking off in March, this is just the beginning. If the reactions at the listening event were any indication, McRae’s biggest era yet has officially arrived.