‘Feeling Sexy in My Own Body’: Tate McRae on Confidence, Creativity, and Finding Her Voice

At just 21 years old, Tate McRae has already experienced remarkable highs in her career, from her breakout debut, 'you broke me first' (now 4x Platinum) to the overwhelming success of her latest album, think later. But behind the polished performances and chart-topping hits lies a journey of self-discovery, self-doubt, and a hard-fought battle to reclaim her voice. In her Think Later YouTube/Vevo short film, Tate gives fans a raw, intimate look into her world, breaking down her experiences between live performances of “exes,” “we’re not alike,” and “hurt my feelings.”

"Things come at you really fast.."

“Being present in the moment has been one of the things I had to remind myself of in the past couple of years because things come at you really fast,” she confides. This reflection sets the tone for the entire conversation—Tate is learning to navigate the fast pace of fame, the pressures of the industry, and the delicate balance of staying grounded.

One of the most striking moments in the interview is Tate’s admission of how, for years, she wasn’t living on her own terms. “For so many years, I feel like I went listening to everyone and what they wanted me to be and what they wanted me to say,” she reveals. For someone who entered the music industry at just 15, the pressure to conform was overwhelming. Her confession speaks to a common struggle for young artists, especially those trying to maintain a sense of identity in a world eager to mold them.

"I really figured out...what I want to feel when I’m on the stage—how I feel, feeling sexy in my own body."

But breaking free from those voices wasn’t easy. It was a slow, sometimes painful process of rediscovering her own voice and learning to trust her instincts again. Now, Tate is reclaiming her narrative. “I really figured out what my style is, what I like to write about, and what I want to feel when I’m on the stage—how I feel, feeling sexy in my own body.” This revelation shows a woman stepping into her power, confident in her creative choices. Her recent single, “it’s ok, i’m ok,” is a result of this transformation, with its bold lyrics and infectious rhythm showcasing Tate at her most self-assured.

Tate's vulnerability often fuels her creative process, and in many ways, it’s when she lets her guard down that the magic happens. “I always had a really difficult time talking about happy and good things in life because usually my writing comes from a painful place,” she admits. It’s this raw honesty that has endeared her to fans. Tracks like “exes,” which she performs in the short film, reveal her ability to turn personal pain into art. Ironically, though, the song almost didn’t happen.

“'exes' was so funny because we were finishing up the tracklist of the album. We had all the songs down, and my label was like, ‘Do not write another song,’” she recalls with a laugh. But Tate and producer Ryan Tedder couldn’t resist one last creative burst. “We went into the next room, started to write a song, and came out with a fully produced, recorded, and written song in 60 minutes. It was so random—we just absolutely did not expect it.” This spontaneity highlights a recurring theme in Tate’s work—her best creations come when she stops overthinking and lets the process flow naturally.

“greedy,” the lead single from think later, exemplifies this blend of vulnerability and spontaneity. The song has racked up over 1.4 billion streams on Spotify, and its vibrant music video has garnered more than 152 million views. Following close behind, “exes” has amassed over 414 million streams, with 38 million YouTube views. Clearly, Tate’s ability to channel her raw emotions into music is striking a chord with listeners worldwide.

"You never get an instruction manual on how to do any of this or who you should be.."

Amid the highs of creative success, Tate has also faced the harsh realities of navigating toxic relationships within the industry. “It’s a whole bunch of trial and error, meeting bad people to find good people,” she admits, her voice heavy with experience. It’s a painful, yet all-too-common, part of the journey for many artists. But through those difficult encounters, Tate has emerged stronger, with a clearer vision of what she wants and, more importantly, the right people to help her achieve it.

A major highlight for Tate in the past year has been assembling the right creative team. "For the first time this year, I found a pretty consistent group of people who were able to execute the vision I’ve been wanting for so long and just had no idea how to tap into," she shares. This team, including creative director Bradley J. Calder, helped bring her ideas to life: "I honestly think I found so many people in the past year who are going to be lifelong creators or creative partners, especially my creative director Bradley. He fully understands what’s going on in my brain and knows how to bring it to life without it being altered or skewed in another way."

Tate also speaks highly of working with Ryan Tedder and Amy Allen, both of whom she praises for their songwriting skills: "Getting to be a part of a song, learning from them, and combining all our writing techniques has been really interesting."

This newfound creative freedom is one of the key reasons McRae’s work feels more authentic than ever.

The final segment of the interview reflects on Tate’s broader journey, both as an artist and a person. "You never get an instruction manual on how to do any of this or who you should be, so you just have to figure out what doesn’t work and then what does."

"I am so young, and this is the coolest thing ever!"

As Tate McRae reflects on her journey, she’s keenly aware of how fast things have happened. “It’s hard to reflect on things when they are happening so fast,” she admits, adding that it often hits her in the middle of a performance or when she’s surrounded by people she admires. “Here I am, doing this, and I am so young, and this is the coolest thing ever.”

With think later continuing to dominate our playlists and minds and her latest single, “it’s ok, i’m ok,” embodying her newfound power and sexuality, it’s clear that Tate McRae is only just beginning to tap into her full potential. Her journey of self-discovery, resilience, and unapologetic authenticity is resonating with millions, reminding us all of the importance of staying present and true to ourselves—no matter how fast life comes at us.