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At GRAMMY U’s latest Unwrapped program, multi-platinum pop star Tate McRae joined collaborators in an intimate discussion about her latest album, So Close to What.
Alongside GRAMMY-winning songwriter Amy Allen and producer/songwriter Grant Boutin, McRae opened up about her inspirations, stories, and creative processes.
Held in Los Angeles on Sept. 29, GRAMMY U members buzzed as they entered the album-themed room. The event space was transformed to reflect the aesthetic of So Close to What, with album covers on display, orange-hued signage mirroring the artwork, and photo booths designed around the record’s visuals. McRae was welcomed onto the stage by Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., and opened the event with an acoustic performance of "Revolving door" and "Greenlight."
McRae, Allen and Boutin discussed five songs off the album — including "Purple lace bra" and "Sports car" — in addition to sharing demos and anecdotes from the making of So Close to What. In addition to performing two tracks, McRae candidly reflected on navigating perfectionism, learning to trust her perspective, and transforming real-time emotions into music that resonates with fans worldwide. GRAMMY U Unwrapped was made possible by presenting sponsor Sony Pro Audio, participating sponsor Mastercard, and held in collaboration with the Recording Academy’s Songwriters & Composers Wing.
Below, read on for key takeaways from Tate McRae’s Unwrapped session — from capturing raw emotions to finding trust in collaboration. The conversation reveals the lessons, surprises, and instincts that shaped So Close to What.
All photos courtesy of Alberto Rodriguez/Getty Images
Tate McRae
Tate McRae Captured Raw Emotions In Real Time
For McRae, songwriting is less about delivering a polished product and more about capturing raw emotions in motion. McRae revealed that much of So Close to What came from writing every single day — even while on tour. "I was honestly just in the studio every day, figuring out what the epiphany of the year was, [and] what I was feeling," she explained.
Amy Allen echoed this sentiment, calling real-time writing "a beautiful thing" because it captures feelings in their rawest state.
McRae shared further that that process also brought challenges. "I find it impossible to know when to put the pen down when I write," she said, recalling how one song went through over 30 versions in just two weeks. Perfectionism, she admitted, often makes finishing a song the hardest part.
But deadlines became a surprising gift that helped her break free from endless revisions. "Sometimes you just need to stop yourself. You can create and scrape and create and scrape, and you end up with a different project."
Grant Boutin, Tate McRae & Amy Allen
The Singer Found Trust In Her Collaborators
While collaboration once felt daunting, McRae revealed that some of her boldest songs emerged from trusting her team.
A standout was "Sports car," which McRae described as a moment of true creative unlock. The track pushed McRae’s vocal and emotional range, combining raw lyrics with production that amplified her vulnerability. The song showed Allen how Tate’s specific vision and willingness to take risks transformed the writing room into a place of discovery.
Grant Boutin echoed this sentiment, noting how McRae’s fearlessness in experimenting drove the sound of the record — from including whispers in the song to witnessing McRae's countless evolutions and tweaks.
While McRae often begins with a clear vision, she admitted that learning to open up was transformative. "At first, collaboration was so scary for me. But when you flip to know that this is all about learning… it unlocks something."
Allen stressed that collaboration pushes artists to see beyond their own perspective. "How can you make someone feel a new way [and] give something to the world that has not been done before," she questioned.
The creative process behind So Close to What was built on honesty, experimentation, and trust — a foundation that let songs like "Sports car" evolve into their final form. Together, McRae, Allen, and Boutin demonstrated how collaboration is less about compromise and more about finding new layers of artistry.
Express Vulnerability Through A Wider Lens
McRae highlighted "Purple lace bra" as one of the songs that shaped the direction of So Close to What. A deeply personal centerpiece, the lyrics are intimate and conversational in tone, which ultimately reflects the album's vulnerable center. The track underscores the album’s emotional range, balancing bold experimentation with unguarded confession.
Its lyrical honesty allows listeners to get a glimpse into new challenges McRae faced (and has learned to overcome) as she reaches new levels of stardom. Yet McRae deftly conveys her story, ensuring that her relatability is not lost amongst a growing and changing audience. Co-writer Allen noted that songs like "Purple lace bra" are demonstrative of McRae’s ability to channel her experiences into universally resonant lyrics that still feel specific and lived-in.
McRae and co. brought this vulnerability directly to the GRAMMY U audience, playing an early demo of "Purple lace bra" from a voice memo. Attendees could hear the faint sounds of McRae and Allen workshopping melodies and lyrics, developing an early iteration of the popular track.
Trust Your Intuition To Showcase Your Most Artistic Self
For Tate McRae, one of the most defining lessons of So Close to What came not from meticulous planning but from a sudden shift in instinct.
She revealed that "Revolving door" was never meant to be a single. Yet in the midst of refining the album, she felt a strong, almost inexplicable pull toward the track. "Sometimes it just clicks," McRae explained, noting that despite the dozens of versions she had labored over for other songs, "Revolving door" had an immediacy that she could not ignore.
The realization set off a rapid-fire chain of decisions. Within a couple of weeks, McRae and her team pivoted to make the song a single and bring it to life through a music video. The result was a striking visual piece, filmed in just a week, featuring Robbie Blue’s sharp choreography, simple styling, and carefully placed Easter eggs. As a result, "Revolving door" became the album's narrative centerpiece.
McRae described the urgency of the process as both daunting and liberating. The pressure to move quickly left no room for second-guessing, reinforcing the idea that artistic intuition often carries more weight than overthinking ever could. "Revolving door" reminded McRae that the best artistic choices are the ones made in the heat of the moment. It was, in her words, a moment of clarity that pushed her to trust her instincts more fully, even before she had time to polish every detail.
Onstage, songs took on new life. "Sometimes I can get so in my head about the songs… then seeing people sing it live, I relive it," McRae said. For her, dancing and performing are inseparable from the songwriting process: "As a dancer as well, I feel like it’s the whole point of it — it’s the experience."
Recast Negative Emotions
With "Miss possessive," McRae confronted a feeling often cast in a negative light: possessiveness. Rather than shy away, she wanted to reclaim the trait as a form of confidence and self-awareness. "It’s about taking ownership of a part of yourself that’s usually taboo," she explained. The song transforms the idea of being controlling and jealous from judgment to empowerment, showing that emotions often labeled as flaws can instead reflect passion and care.
McRae described how the track also shaped the concept for her tour, as she embraced that persona. Amy Allen noted that "Miss possessive" is a prime example of how collaboration can amplify personal truth, helping the artist articulate ideas that might have otherwise remained unspoken.
Through "Miss possessive," McRae encourages listeners to confront emotions directly and embrace them without shame, demonstrating that vulnerability and power can coexist in the same moment.
Harvey Mason Jr, Tate McRae, Grant Boutin & Amy Allen with GRAMMY U Reps
Stay Persistent & Stay Bold
The panel closed with reflections aimed at GRAMMY U members pursuing their own careers in the music industry. McRae admitted that it took her time to trust her perspective. "Sometimes it’s very humbling after writing songs with so many people, when you go home you can still feel stuck. But trusting yourself is part of it."
Allen reminded the audience that collaboration isn’t about ego: "It’s all about learning what’s possible and consistently pushing yourself." Both encouraged members to stay persistent, keep creating, and remember that every song, like every artist, evolves.