A Tate McRae Introduction in 3 Songs

Tate McRae has quietly risen to pop stardom.

Videos by American Songwriter

But outside of her 2023 hit “Greedy,” the 21-year-old Canadian singer and dancer doesn’t yet have the identifiable anthems and stylings of her contemporaries: Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, or Olivia Rodrigo.

Nonetheless, her popularity grows. McRae released her third album, So Close to What, on February 21. And she recently appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, performing two new tracks, “Sports Car” and “Dear God.”

Like others before her, McRae is largely defined by a background in dance. Her tightly choreographed music videos bring to mind MTV in the 2000s. Which also brings to mind another comparison you’ll often hear with McRae, Britney Spears.

Here’s a look at three songs to introduce you to the music of Calgary, Canada’s newest pop sensation.

“Sports Car” from So Close to What (2025)

Co-writer Julia Michaels wanted to recreate “Wait (The Whisper Song)” by the Ying Yang Twins, but from a “pop girl” perspective. McRae told Variety how she began singing over a “nasty pop girl beat.” Eventually, they landed on the sports car metaphor. And McRae’s line, We can uh-uh in it, aims for Sabrina Carpenter’s wit. McRae’s SNL performance of the tune featured an impressive dance routine over a collapsing mess of silver chairs. You can see her connecting the generational dots between Britney Spears and current stars like Carpenter or Billie Eilish.

In the alley, in the back
In the center of this room
With the windows rolled down
Boy, don’t make me choose

“Greedy” from Think Later (2023)

The music video for “Greedy” finds McRae driving a Zamboni around an ice hockey rink. It recalls the ’90s Cool Britannia of the Spice Girls—an endearing nod to the homeland. Billboard reported the song reflected a coordinated TikTok promotional campaign, instead “of getting carried to success by a random runaway trend.” It worked. So far, it’s McRae’s highest charting single, peaking at No. 3 on the Hot 100.

I would want myself
Baby, please believe me
I’ll put you through hell
Just to know me, yeah, yeah

“She’s All I Wanna Be” from I Used to Think I Could Fly (2022)

On her debut, McRae echoes the pop-rock and relationship angst of Olivia Rodrigo’s stellar debut. She teamed with star producer Greg Kurstin, who has helmed massive hits for Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Foo Fighters, and Maren Morris. Vocally, McRae doesn’t let loose like Rodrigo. But the cool aloofness in her singing does add a dreamlike quality to her diary pop.

Stupid boy making me so sad
Didn’t think you could change this fast
She’s got everything that I don’t have
How could I ever compete with that?

Photo by Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images