Tate McRae, the talented Canadian pop star, recently shared her feelings about the leaks of several songs from her upcoming album, So Close to What, which was set to be released on February 21. Earlier this year, the leaks left her feeling helpless and frustrated, as some of her work surfaced online before she could officially launch it.
At a listening event with Spotify held in Los Angeles on February 18, McRae expressed her dismay over the situation. She described the experience as "devastating," stating, “Unfortunately, a lot of the album got leaked, which was a bummer.” The 21-year-old artist reflected on how such incidents affect one’s perspective on their projects.
Feeling the weight of the situation, McRae admitted, “I was just so devastated because I’m like, ‘There’s nothing I can do about this. The whole project is online.’” Instead of letting the leaks discourage her, she decided to take matters into her own hands by writing additional songs, including “Like I Do” and “Bloodonmyhands.” This allowed her to regain some control over her creative process amidst the chaos.
During the event, she also clarified that the leaked versions of her songs were still in the demo stage and did not reflect her vision. “The demo never sounds how you want it to sound. There’s so much missing,” she noted, admitting it was difficult to see work that wasn’t quite finished being shared online.
In addition to discussing the leaks, McRae touched on her collaboration with her boyfriend, The Kid LAROI, on the track “I Know Love.” She mentioned the unique challenges that arise from working creatively with a partner, emphasizing the awkwardness that can come from trying to be serious in a studio setting while also being in a relationship.
Overall, McRae’s journey through the ups and downs of her music release highlights not just her resilience as an artist but also the personal growth that comes with facing unexpected challenges in the public eye.
