Global superstar Tate McRae released her third studio album, “So Close to What,” on February 21, and many fans noticed her subtle and maybe not-so-subtle references to the motorsports world. Whether through song lyrics or visual elements, it’s evident that the Canadian singer was influenced by cars.
McRae’s third album “So Close to What” features a few references that caught the eye of Formula 1 fans. Courtesy of Pastemagazine.com.
This isn’t the first time McRae has included sports references in her work; her previous album, “Think Later,” had many hockey inspirations and aesthetics. She became known for hockey-inspired outfits and references largely due to her Canadian roots, but it seems she’s stepped away from the rink and onto the track.
The singer dropped her second single, “2 Hands” on November 14, the first car-related anthem. She even posted a video ahead of the release with a very familiar papaya-colored toy car, sparking Formula 1 fans to enter the chat.
Her music video for the single was heavily car-inspired, with a papaya sports car and garage-esque vibes that perfectly encapsulated the song. While it stands as an amazing performance on its own, it also hinted at the next single, which may be a little more on the nose.
“Sports Car” is probably the most obvious car-related song she created, as it’s quite literally in the title. The music video for this song may not push the motorsports agenda, but you get the idea.
The singer has fully embraced the car aesthetic for promos, even opting to use the aesthetic for her tour announcement. Courtesy of T-mobilecenter.com.
On top of these two singles, many references give the entire album a car-centric feel. “Greenlight” is another song that showcases a metaphorical side of driving, and feeling afraid to jump into a new relationship.
She dove even deeper into this idea with her alternate album cover, featuring her posing with a road behind her. This could stand for many different things, but it’s another element of the sport we know and love all the same.
Her references expand beyond song lyrics and music video visuals, into costuming.
Her “2 Hands” music video featured a custom race-suit design with a corset underneath. The outfit included chequered flags and papaya details and sported her name on the very front. She may not be driving, but she can certainly serve looks on and off the track.
The Canadian singer’s custom-made outfit for her music was sure to turn heads. Courtesy of Rollingstone.com.
Her first large-scale global arena tour was announced for 2025, which sparked a lot of conversation about what the overall vibe will be for her shows. It may seem a little sports-biased, but there is hope that she will fully lean into that persona and showcase even more motorsports-based outfits.
Now that she has conquered the motorsports and hockey worlds, one can only assume she’ll keep up the sports-inspired discographies. Who knows, we may even see her in the paddock one day.
Edited by Reese Dlabach
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