Chronically Elle

I first met Tate in 2018, when I was 12 years old. I was not feeling too well, so I found myself laying on the couch mindlessly scrolling through YouTube videos on my laptop. I have always had a profound fascination with songwriting, so I clicked on a video that caught my attention titled “How To Write a Song.” The songwriting tutorial began with a teenage girl sitting behind a keyboard. She had a bright smile and captivating camera presence and I was immediately hooked. I then went down a rabbit hole scrolling through her account and falling in love with the original songs she posted– songs that my middle school self strongly related to. All of her videos featuring her original work opened with a cute little intro that displayed the words “Create With Tate” on the screen in bright yellow and blue. One song in particular left a permanent impact on me. I found this song under a particular YouTube video called “i wrote a song… one day // tate mcrae.” The lyrics told a tale of a girl and a boy, secretly in love with one another but each too shy to come forward. The song really resonated with myself at that age, and I thought it was so beautifully written and such a relevant topic. I also was drawn in by her unique and now famously recognizable vocals that felt both completely authentic and emotionally moving. After finding “One day” on Spotify and adding it to my playlists, I searched Tate up on instagram and hit the follow button. As a girl my age would do, I scrolled to the very bottom of her account and found that she not only was a singer/songwriter but also a dancing sensation. I soon learned that she was a contestant on the show “So You Think You Can Dance,” and realized most of her following at the time came from the dancing world, whereas I encountered her through music. This girl represented the epitome of talent. But her personality and life experiences never seemed too different from my own. Though she was merely a teenage girl navigating life just like me, there was no doubt she was destined for superstardom. 

  As I grew up, so did Tate. She continued to write music that directly paralleled the stages in life I was at as I moved through middle and then high school, watching as my favorite little YouTuber started to gain global recognition. From her first EP “all the things I never said” with ballads such as “that way” and “tear myself apart” and dance pop bangers like “stupid” and “all my friends are fake,” Tate had a song for every situation. In 2020, Tate’s first major hit “you broke me first” dropped, and I can recall my excitement upon hearing it on the radio for the first time. When I had just turned 16, she released her debut album “i used to think i could fly” which I had the privilege of listening to for the first time alongside one of my dear friends Zoey. We both may have shed some tears, as we felt deeply validated and understood by the stories Tate told in this album. My favorites will always be “boy x,” go away,” and “chaotic” (but also every other track on the record as well).

 

When Tate announced the “Are we flying?” tour in 2023, Zoey and I immediately hopped on Facetime and got to work. We had business to take care of– AKA tickets to claim. 

The second time I met Tate, I actually met her– as in, we spoke to one another and shared a hug. Zoey and I were able to get VIP tickets with a sound check pass along with a meet and greet for Tate’s show in Toronto. Obviously, the fangirl in me was shaking with nerves as I was about to meet one of my idols who helped guide me through some of my most challenging years. In our minute of time together I wanted to express how much of an impact she has had on me, but no words could possibly do it justice. When it was my turn to say “hello,” my first thought was dang she is much taller in person, but my second thought was my disbelief that I was being greeted by the same smile of that 14 year-old girl on my computer screen back in 2018— except now she was 20 and I was 17. To describe how I felt, starstuck is an understatement. Her enthusiasm and kindness fell nothing short of pure sincerity and genuine appreciation. We hugged and I said the classic words a fan says when they meet their favorite artist, “I love you!” And she said “I love you too!” Though I am sure she says that to all of her fans, I could tell she really meant it. Her persona was humble, genuine, and simply real. Loving all of her supporters seemed to come naturally to her.  In a moment I will never forget, she proceeded to compliment my makeup look. I happened to be particularly insecure about my makeup that day, as I tried to throw together a ‘cool’ eyeshadow blend of orange and hot pink to match her album cover… it flopped. I didn’t have much time to spend on it between school and the show, and I was not thrilled with the product. So when Tate said to me, “your eye shadow looks so cool, I always try to blend it like that but it’s so hard,” I was dumbfounded and deeply grateful. A simple compliment can go a long way especially when it comes from your hero. In our short conversation I was able to tell Tate the brief story of how I found her on YouTube and that I was a big “Create With Tate” fan. We took a selfie and so many people have told me we look like sisters (also a major compliment). That show continued to be one of the best and most unforgettable nights of my life. In an intimate 2,000 person venue, I got to witness some of my favorite songs of all time live in the front row. Her live vocals were beyond stunning, her choreography flawless, and her ability to command a stage and connect with a crowd just remarkable. 

About five days after the concert, Tate released her sensational pop hit “greedy.” This song would catapult her career even farther than before. In no time, she started playing arenas on her Think Later world tour. Tate’s fame simply skyrocketed, so I am forever grateful I got the opportunity to share a conversation with her before it became nearly impossible. Her next album “Think Later” perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to be in your late teens/early twenties, trying to live life to the fullest while navigating the emotional turmoil that can come from relationships, friendships, and mental health. This past February, came her iconic album “So Close To What” featuring singles “It’s ok I’m ok,”  “2 hands” and “sports car,” with some of her most insane production yet and music videos showcasing her self-proclaimed alter ego “Tatiana”. 

Aside from all of her relatable music, representing the highs and lows of adolescent-hood, what really stands out most about Tate is the confidence she portrays and the ways in which she inspires so many young women. What I admire so much about her is how she is very open about being in control of her work and having creative freedom. The level of authority she radiates perfectly defines what it means to be a “girl boss.” She shows up on stage as a fierce female figure who knows exactly who she is and the message she wants to convey. From watching her YouTube videos as a pre-teen, to seeing her perform live, or interviewed on the red carpet on TV, Tate represents herself as a confident, kind, authentic, and powerful role model. With undeniable beauty inside and out, she is the exact ideal pop star for girls to be looking up to, or like me, growing up with. She uses her talents not only to build an astounding career but also to show how fearlessly being yourself and taking advantage of the skills you were born with can take you as far as you dream possible. The singer, songwriter, dancer, and outstanding performer proves that putting yourself out there into the world with confidence and authenticity is the key to success. To completely sum up the now twenty-two year old’s talent, watch her performance from the VMAs just last Sunday. 

Speaking of her VMAs performance, seeing her sing and dance her heart out behind my screen definitely felt bittersweet and nostalgic. Though I feel so proud of the artist she has grown into, I will always be so thankful for the sad-girl songwriter who posted her originals on YouTube and thus helped me survive middle school. As I told the Canadian queen herself when we met, “Create with Tate” will always hold a special place in my heart. Call me “miss possessive” (if you know, you know), but I will always proudly declare my spot as an OG Tater Tot. 

As I type this, Tate is actively performing in Atlanta just over an hour away. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, so I am kind of freaking out with FOMO at the moment. But all I can say is we definitely made the right person famous, and Miss McRae deserves it all.