McRae caught the attention of RCA Records in 2019 after her 2017 song "One Day" gained virality on YouTube and TikTok, preceding the release of her debut extended play, all the things i never said. McRae soon gained wider recognition after her 2020 single "You Broke Me First" became an international hit, peaking at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2021, McRae was the youngest musician featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list. Her second EP, too young to be sad, was the most streamed female EP of 2021 on Spotify. Her debut studio album, i used to think i could fly, was released on May 27, 2022. The album was met with positive reviews from critics, reached the top 10 in various countries, and entered at number thirteen on the US Billboard 200. Her 2023 single, "greedy" achieved further success on the chart, preceding the release of her second studio album, Think Later.
McRae has named Post Malone, The Weeknd, Khalid, Jessie Reyez, and Jeremy Zucker as her biggest musical influences. She cites Zendaya and Dua Lipa as all-around influences and has described both women as her biggest idols, noting that she looks up to them in all aspects of life. She has also named Bruno Mars, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Ciara, Jennifer Lopez, and Justin Timberlake as inspirations for bringing dance into her performances while naming Taylor Swift, Julia Michaels, and Alec Benjamin as songwriting inspirations. Further, McRae has called herself a "huge fan" of Swift and described her as "one of the greatest songwriters." McRae has also expressed an admiration for Billie Eilish.
McRae has been described as "the teen dance star turned future pop idol" by i-D, "the new teen queen" by Notion, "Canada's answer to Billie Eilish" by Elle, and "one of pop's bright young hopes" by The Independent. She has also been noted for her honest lyrics, impressive vocals, and relatable music. Additionally, McRae has received considerable acclaim as a dancer, and has been praised by artist, dancer, and choreographer Paula Abdul who declared her a "gift from God", and choreographers such as Stacey Tookey and Blake McGrath both of whom stated that she's talented beyond her years, with the latter describing her as "one of the best dancers he has ever worked with" as well as two-time Emmy winner Travis Wall who has named her as one of his muses. Margaret Furher of Dance Spirit Magazine described her dancing as virtuosic both technically and artistically. As of December 2023, her YouTube channel has over 1.25 billion views and has gained over 6.7 billion career streams across all platforms.
Distant
Tate McRae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Knowing that I need that space to be
Create my path into the unknown
Circle and back into what means most
I keep a distance for my own purpose
And I can tell you feel the same
The expectations and situations
And it don't matter 'cause I push right through
Do you understand I'm just like you?
All the doubts that I have ever had
Were never built to last
That's why we're distant
For our own purpose
That's why we're di-di-di-
That's why we're distant
It's hard to know if these thoughts are true
If I'm driftin', I'm shiftin' my point of view
'Cause I've been told I need to separate
Get away from the crowd and carve my way
I keep a distance for my own purpose
And I can tell you feel the same
The expectations and situations
Are driving me insane
And it don't matter 'cause I push right through
Do you understand I'm just like you?
All the doubts that I have ever had
Were never built to last
That's why we're distant
For our own purpose
That's why we're di-di-di-
That's why we're distant
Distant, distant, distant (distance)
This purpose, purpose, purpose (purpose)
This distance, distant, distant (distant)
This purpose (purpose)
That's why we're distant (distant, distant)
For our own purpose (purpose, purpose)
That's why we're di-di-di- (distant, this purpose)
That's why we're distant
For our own purpose
That's why we're di-di-di- (distant, distant)
I keep a distance
For our own purpose
That's why we're different
The lyrics of "Distant" by Tate McRae and Sean Lew explore the theme of personal space and the need to distance oneself from others for self-discovery and growth. The song reflects on the importance of creating one's own path and finding what truly matters in life. It acknowledges the pressure and expectations that society places on individuals, leading to feelings of frustration and insanity.
The opening lines, "I stay away 'cause there's a part of me, Knowing that I need that space to be," highlight the need for a physical and emotional distance. The artists emphasize that they are not alone in this sentiment and acknowledge that the person they are speaking to also feels the same way. They feel the weight of expectations and social situations, which intensify their desire for personal space.
The chorus, "And it don't matter 'cause I push right through, Do you understand I'm just like you? All the doubts that I have ever had, Were never built to last," expresses resilience and self-empowerment. Despite the doubts and challenges faced, the artists push through, asserting their similarity to others who may be going through the same struggles. They recognize that doubts are transient and shouldn't hold them back.
The repetition of "That's why we're distant, For our own purpose" reinforces the idea that distancing oneself from others is a deliberate choice, driven by a need for personal growth and finding one's purpose. It emphasizes that this distance is not a negative thing but rather a necessary step on the journey of self-discovery.
Overall, "Distant" is a song that encourages individuality, self-assertion, and the importance of personal space for one's own purpose.
Line by Line Meaning
I stay away 'cause there's a part of me
I choose to keep my distance because there is a part of me that needs space
Knowing that I need that space to be
I understand the importance of having that space for myself
Create my path into the unknown
I am forging my own path, venturing into unfamiliar territory
Circle and back into what means most
I will eventually come full circle and return to what truly matters to me
I keep a distance for my own purpose
I maintain distance for my personal reasons
And I can tell you feel the same
I can sense that you also share the desire for distance
The expectations and situations
The pressures and circumstances
Are driving me insane
Are causing me great distress
And it don't matter 'cause I push right through
And it doesn't matter because I persevere despite it all
Do you understand I'm just like you?
Can you comprehend that I experience the same things as you?
All the doubts that I have ever had
All the uncertainties I have ever faced
Were never built to last
Were never intended to endure
It's hard to know if these thoughts are true
It is difficult to ascertain the validity of these thoughts
If I'm driftin', I'm shiftin' my point of view
If I feel disconnected, I am altering my perspective
'Cause I've been told I need to separate
Because others have advised me to distance myself
Get away from the crowd and carve my way
Escape from the masses and pave my own path
Distant, distant, distant (distance)
Far apart, far apart, far apart (physical and emotional distance)
This purpose, purpose, purpose (purpose)
This intention, intention, intention (reasoning)
This distance, distant, distant (distant)
This gap, far away, far away (separation)
That's why we're distant (distant, distant)
That is why we keep our distance (far apart, far apart)
For our own purpose (purpose, purpose)
For our individual reasons (intention, intention)
That's why we're di-di-di- (distant, this purpose)
That's why we maintain our distance (far away, this intention)
That's why we're distant
That's why we are not close
For our own purpose
Because we have our own reasons
That's why we're di-di-di- (distant, distant)
That's why we distance ourselves (far apart, far apart)
I keep a distance
I maintain a separation
For our own purpose
For our own personal intentions
That's why we're different
That's why we are unique or distinct
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sean Charles Lew, Tate McRae
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind