On her debut, 2022's infectiously realized
I Used to Think I Could Fly
, singer/dancer
Tate McRae
further defines her angsty, candidly emotive pop sound.
McRae
, who broke through with her 2020 single "You Broke Me First," builds upon that song's introspective vibe, crafting deeply felt anthems that straddle the line between acoustic singer/songwriter balladry and more robustly produced, post-
Billie Eilish
alt-pop. Cuts like "Don't Come Back," "Hate Myself," and "She's All I Wanna Be" showcase her cozy yet still resonant vocals and knack for encapsulating issues like depression, drug abuse, and self-destructive toxic relationships. That
also manages to bring a hooky sense of pop joy to the album speaks to her growing maturity as an artist. ~ Matt Collar