Tate McRae by Juergen Teller for W Magazine
With high-profile career moments, widespread acclaim for her stage skills, several instantly recognizable hits, and even a new signature fragrance, Tate McRae has attained undeniable “pop star” status.
In a new cover interview with W Magazine, McRae talks about the “mindf*ck” of that experience.
“Being a pop singer is the craziest, most overwhelming experience ever,” explains McRae. “There are just so many ideas that people project onto you. Being a girl is hard enough…It’s a bit of a mindfuck.”
The experience has produced irrefutably good moments, such as a closing headline spot at the 2026 iteration of Lollapalooza in Chicago. McRae’s performance, which at one point had her emerging from a tub in gold, received raves this summer.
“I usually black out onstage, but something comes through me…I have one chance to do this correctly,” explains McRae of the viral moment. “Every intrusive thought goes through your brain…physically submerging oneself in liquid is a different sensation.”
It has also produced some controversy, such as when McRae received backlash for collaborating with Morgan Wallen on the chart-topping “What I Want.”
“It’s crazy to think that one song could define a whole person,” says McRae. “There are many aspects of my personality that three-quarters of my audience has no idea about. You hope one day you figure out a way to show all aspects of it.”
Despite all the success, and a deceptively lengthy amount of experience (her global breakthrough “you broke me first” launched in 2020, and that says nothing of her dancing accomplishments), she remains a student of the game.
“I am constantly chasing the adrenaline of being onstage,” declares McRae. “At the same time, I am also a sponge. I love learning, and then fixing myself. When I can fit the puzzle piece, it’s very satisfying.”
The digital story is available here; the print issue arrives on October 27.