Tate McRae stops by our Audacy studios in Los Angeles to talk with Bru about new music and more!
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MusicTranscript
00:00Before we get started, can I get you any snacks or anything?
00:02Please.
00:03No, say the line, say the line.
00:05What's next?
00:05This song.
00:07It's okay, I'm okay.
00:08All right, we're off and running.
00:09Tate McRae, so good to see you.
00:11Go slow.
00:12Oh my god.
00:13Misty glasses.
00:17Thank you for stopping by.
00:19Tate McRae, another Odyssey check-in.
00:20My name is Brew and how are you?
00:23I'm just gonna rhyme the whole time.
00:24Yeah, I'm doing great, you know, just getting through the day.
00:28Absolutely.
00:29Another day, another hit song.
00:30It's so fun to watch Journey.
00:32What are you having the most fun with right now?
00:35Probably like creating like the world of my next whatever happens.
00:42I feel like all my next songs and all the music videos and the treatments, I love that part.
00:47Like it's one of my favorite parts.
00:49So it's been fun to start to carve that world out and see what it looks like.
00:53Totally.
00:53Well, Tate McRae is such a good name.
00:55Like you got so lucky.
00:57Did you ever like think of any stage name before you went out into the world as Tate McRae?
01:02You know, I do think it's a good name.
01:03Like it flows nice.
01:04I always hated like my first name because I was like it's so hard to pronounce
01:08like Tate, like it's just like an annoying name.
01:10I don't know why it's one syllable.
01:12It's like in loud spaces.
01:13I always didn't like the word Tate, but I like my full name.
01:16It works.
01:17Yeah, so there's never any like Tate McRae's.
01:22I mean, I always wanted my name to be Tatiana.
01:24Oh, it's good.
01:25My mom always wanted to be named Tatiana and then I was like, I want to be named Tatiana.
01:29That's a good name too.
01:29Yeah, you never know.
01:30Daughter, pet dog.
01:31You can always keep that in your back pocket.
01:33Exactly.
01:33Well, it's okay.
01:34I'm okay.
01:34It's so much fun.
01:35Congrats on another banger.
01:38And the story is so fun behind it too with, you know, it's okay.
01:41I'm okay in the studio.
01:42Not eating, obviously, until you're done with the session.
01:45Is that more of a superstition or just something that you're like, I'm focused?
01:48More of like I'm focused.
01:49Like just because you never know when you're going to like crack the song.
01:53Like you're sitting there.
01:54Sometimes it can be like nine hours before you crack like the best idea.
01:58Yeah.
01:59But yeah, we're just like sitting there.
02:01I'm like, I need, I always need to leave with something like a chorus or whatever.
02:05So like I've been waiting all day and then I was like, I'm good.
02:08I can't eat yet.
02:09Is there any other rules in the studio in terms of like, do not disturb on the phone or?
02:15I mean, a lot of people treat like sessions like a yap fest.
02:18Like, so no, it's like me and Amy Allen,
02:22um, who's like an unbelievable songwriter.
02:24She did Greedy with me and did, yeah, she's in like majority of my album.
02:28And, um, me and her have like the same thing.
02:31Like we're like, everyone yaps around us and we're just like laser focused.
02:35Cause we're like, we have to get this done before we can like yap.
02:37Yeah.
02:38Yeah.
02:38It's, it's okay.
02:39I'm okay.
02:40Um, obviously didn't make Think Later.
02:42Was that because it wasn't finished or it just didn't make the cut in general for Think Later?
02:47I think like the beat and how it sounded to me, like wasn't the sonic of last album.
02:53I don't think I was like ready to like feel or do a chorus like that,
02:58or even just like make a song like that until this year.
03:01I was like waiting for that kind of beat.
03:03I needed to do the right video with it, the right performance with it.
03:06Yeah.
03:06It's crazy to think, Think Later came out in 2023.
03:10Like even that number sounds crazy.
03:11No, it's this year has flown by like so fast.
03:14And, um, it's even freaky that like Greedy's a year old now,
03:17like that feels like literally yesterday.
03:19That is nuts.
03:20I mean, and it's such a good group.
03:22You found obviously like hit your flow in terms of who you work with and what your sounds like.
03:27How important was it to find that group and how different it was like from before
03:30and to now as you develop, you know, your sound?
03:33Well, it's a really vulnerable process, like being in the studio and the people around you
03:38affects your product, like the most, I think who you,
03:43what you want to share.
03:44Cause I'm a, I'm a pretty like private person.
03:46Like I usually walk in and I'll summarize everything into like five words.
03:50Like I will not spill like my whole life.
03:53It's okay.
03:53I'm okay.
03:53You know, it's okay.
03:54I'm so, so not like that where I would just like completely open up to people.
03:58But if I get really comfortable, then I want to actually talk about the real stuff.
04:02So it just takes time to find those people that you gel with.
04:04And, and also like the production of it too.
04:07Like you have to trust who you're in the room with
04:09and that they're going to make it sound like how you want it to.
04:12Totally.
04:13And it's all mindset too.
04:14Like everyone's thinking different things.
04:16And you said you have like an athlete's mindset plays into like your music making experience.
04:22Um, I think it's, I just kind of approach it like a job.
04:26Like, I think like I wake up, I have my routine, I go to work out, I go to go on stage.
04:32Like that's like the most fun way for me to approach it.
04:35Once it gets to like artsy and stuff, it freaks me out a little bit.
04:38Um, and I think it's because I was raised in a household
04:41where like sports and like competing and like, you know,
04:45me and my brother like going out, it was just like such a big thing.
04:48Um, that's what I find like the most inspiring.
04:52Like sometimes I'll watch like, like LeBron James interviews.
04:56And I don't know why I find that like the most inspiring.
05:01It's like funny.
05:02It's like a different part of my brain that affects the creative part,
05:05like even more hilarious.
05:06It's so true.
05:07I'll scroll on Tik Tok and I'll get like a motivation Tik Tok.
05:09I'm like, I'm right.
05:10I gotta get off this app and get to work.
05:11You know, it's so funny what gets you motivated.
05:13I know I get those.
05:15Hey, you've been scrolling too long.
05:16You're like, you're right.
05:16I'm gonna change my life.
05:17I'm like, truly, I've been scrolling for three hours and you don't leave.
05:20Well, you're such a persona and like, obviously a performer on stage.
05:24And I'm sure it like takes over a part of your mindset.
05:26Like you're playing a character almost.
05:28Yeah.
05:29Does Tate come back into that body at all when you're performing?
05:31You're like, wow, I'm actually doing this.
05:33Or like, what am I going to eat for dinner after?
05:35It's funny because there's like a few moments that my fans will
05:38catch like on stage or like in New Jersey, for example,
05:42like we had these disgusting massive bugs that were flying on stage
05:46and would land on us like while we were performing.
05:50And it was so freaky.
05:51Like until the entire show, I kept going like in and out of performance
05:54because I get like these bugs landing on me.
05:56And there's like so many moments on the tour this year where
06:00I would just like something would land on me or I would see something
06:04or I would get like distracted and I like...
06:05Snaps you out of it.
06:06Totally snaps out of it.
06:07And usually when I like cry too on stage or like get really emotional,
06:12it's because I snap out of my performer mode.
06:14I'm like, this is a really surreal, unbelievable thing that I'm doing.
06:18Like it's doing this is not normal feeling.
06:22Yeah.
06:23For sure.
06:23Speaking of Jersey, you are playing our We Can Survive concert.
06:26It's coming up in a week.
06:27And that show is all about supporting mental health.
06:29And look, being a pop star, that's like, it's hard.
06:32So what do you do when you need, you know, like a mental health break?
06:36I actually, the other day, literally walked outside and sat in the grass.
06:40Because I was like, I need to realize that like,
06:43I think number one thing always is just like finding gratitude in every situation.
06:48Like if you're not happy or something stressing you out,
06:51you have to look around and realize the things that you do have.
06:53And it takes you out of like a tiny bubble sometimes.
06:57Because I think it's like people,
06:59we just get into this flow of always wanting more and
07:02always wanting to like look for the next thing and compare.
07:05And sometimes you forget that like our life is very blessed.
07:08And I think whenever I like get into a spot where I get stuck,
07:11I always need to be like, okay, you need to step out of your head
07:15and realize that you're really lucky to be in the position that you're in.
07:18And in the apartment that you're in, you have a good family.
07:21And I think that it always puts things into perspective for me.
07:25Yeah.
07:25And I like the grass part too.
07:26Because sometimes nature is just like such a weird like...
07:28You really do have to touch the grass sometimes.
07:30Get those toes in the grass.
07:31And you're like, I feel better.
07:32And realize that your phone isn't like a real thing.
07:35You know, the grass is.
07:38Yeah.
07:39You're gonna be on some different grass coming up too.
07:41Obviously, we have New Jersey coming up.
07:42Then you're off to Asia.
07:43How excited for that leg of the tour are you?
07:45I have been dying to go to Tokyo for so many years.
07:48First time?
07:49It's my first time.
07:50Wow.
07:50I'm like...
07:50What's on the bucket list of things?
07:52Yeah, it is bucket list.
07:53I'm like so excited to just look around and see the culture and just be there.
07:57Yeah.
07:58It's gonna be a blast.
07:58Can't wait to see it.
07:59Try to make it out to one of those shows.
08:01Because I've never been to Japan either.
08:02Yeah, just travel like how many hours?
08:04You know, go see the tower.
08:05Go visit Tate's show.
08:06It's all part of the experience.
08:07Yeah.
08:08So for It's Okay, I'm Okay, the music video.
08:10Is it true you walked like 200 times in those heels?
08:13I mean, I was probably exaggerating a bit when I said that.
08:15A million times.
08:16I'm like, I walked...
08:17No, we did do that strut though.
08:20Like so many times in those heels.
08:22You have to.
08:22I mean, would you say that's one of your like most fun experience?
08:25I mean, that's not fun.
08:26But the whole music video looked like so much fun.
08:28Yeah.
08:28It's like your most fun music video you've done.
08:30It was.
08:31It was like a crazy day.
08:33It was a very ambitious day.
08:34We got so many outfits and shots in like 10 hours.
08:38Yeah.
08:38Well, you're such a shoe person.
08:40You're such a sneakerhead.
08:41Yeah.
08:41What is it on tour like?
08:42What's the shoe of choice for performing?
08:45And then when you hit casual time?
08:47I always wear sneakers.
08:48I mean, I don't know what these are.
08:49It's like some...
08:51Those are cool.
08:51Like a little Cinderella moment going on here.
08:53Kind of, yeah.
08:54Um, yeah, I'm always wearing sneakers or like boots.
08:58Like, I just can't rock a heel.
08:59Like, I mean, I could put it on, but I hate how they feel.
09:03Like, it's so uncomfortable.
09:04Absolutely.
09:05Yeah.
09:05You take such pride in your songwriting, obviously.
09:07And you love country music, right?
09:09Yeah.
09:09What is it about country?
09:10Is it the songwriting?
09:11Is it like the storytelling?
09:12Or is it just the twang?
09:13Um, it's like storytelling, of course.
09:17But I think it's like as soon as the guitar like starts.
09:20Records and the truth.
09:22It makes me feel like summer, like back home.
09:24Like, just reminds me of like my childhood.
09:26So I'm always just like, it's a feeling.
09:28I have to be in the moment for country music.
09:30When Zac Brown Band comes on, I know it's summer.
09:32Yeah, of course.
09:33You feel that in the car.
09:34Windows go down.
09:35It's like a reflex.
09:35I know.
09:36It's like you're in the right mode.
09:38With genres being so like fluid now, you know,
09:40is this something you'd ever want to explore?
09:41I feel like country Tate would be wild.
09:43You could do the posty.
09:44You know, I actually would.
09:45I would want to do like a folk, like country thing at some point.
09:49Whole personality.
09:50Once I'm done with it.
09:52Once I no longer want to dance.
09:53Then you can do the name change.
09:55Tate McCorn or something like.
09:56Right.
09:57Really get into it.
09:58But I feel like those things that you talk about could go into a million different things.
10:02Like you can do greeting cards with that type of stuff or like children's books.
10:05I mean, people do think for a long time,
10:07people thought that Tate McCray was like a country artist name.
10:10Oh, really?
10:10Is there someone that's close in that or something?
10:12I heard that all the time.
10:13They're like, oh, is that a country artist?
10:16Yeah, because my name sounds like country.
10:18Sure, give it a listen.
10:19It's all about my pickup truck.
10:20Yeah, exactly.
10:21Oh, man.
10:22Well, I can't wait to see you out east.
10:23Obviously, you're just at Madison Square Garden, though.
10:25A little bit ago.
10:26Yeah.
10:26It was so fun to see that perform.
10:27I mean, it had to be such a, again, bucket list thing.
10:30It was such a bucket list moment.
10:32Like just being in that venue.
10:35I mean, I've only done like radio shows there.
10:37So being there, like to like headline was really freaky.
10:40I remember all your people.
10:42Yeah, like just walking in and seeing the seats.
10:44She was like, this is not real.
10:45It just feels very crazy.
10:47And to get to share such a cool moment with the kid Leroy
10:50and sing a song acoustically.
10:51And then I'm curious about picking that song, too.
10:53So tell me about the experience getting to bring them out
10:56and then the choice for Without You,
10:57because I think it was so good.
10:58I mean, this is one of my favorite songs of his.
11:01And I remember I was so nervous to ask him.
11:03I'm like, hey, like, would you?
11:08Like, I was so nervous.
11:09And I remember he was like, hey, what should we do?
11:12And we were kind of like going back and forth.
11:13And we're like, what would we sound good together doing?
11:17And then I was it was it was our first time
11:18singing in front of each other.
11:20So both of us were sitting there and sound check,
11:22like, who's going to sing first?
11:25Like, this is so weird.
11:28Like, we're both going to hear each other in our ears.
11:30Like, it was just like, it was so nerve wracking.
11:32Like, I've never been that nervous to sing
11:34in front of someone.
11:35Because you don't do like, I mean, duets are pretty rare
11:37anyways, right?
11:38So rare.
11:39And also, like, when you're like hanging out,
11:41like you're not going to sing seriously
11:44in front of your like boyfriend.
11:46Oh, it's so cringy.
11:48Don't look at me while I'm singing.
11:50Like, look the other way.
11:50Don't stop looking at me.
11:52I never thought about that part of like,
11:53obviously, it's like, oh, I hope it goes well.
11:55And we, you know, it sounds good for the fans.
11:57But what about me?
11:58You know, like, it feels like you're sometimes
11:59when you like connected to it feels like you're
12:02like making a parody of like a thing
12:05that you're supposed to do.
12:06Like, I'm like, it feels like we're like,
12:08this isn't real.
12:08The fact that we're like singing seriously.
12:10Yeah.
12:12The guy didn't laugh in the middle of it.
12:13I literally slow song and everything.
12:15No, seriously.
12:16No, it's so good.
12:17And I can't wait to see what's to come.
12:18We can survive coming up in a week.
12:21You get this like crazy.
12:22I'm sure you're sick of it.
12:22But with all like the Britney comparisons,
12:25it's kind of wild to obviously see.
12:27And it's so fun to watch your journey.
12:28So a different twist on that,
12:30if you could have like go back
12:32and have one of your songs as a duet with Britney.
12:35Speaking of duets, what song do you think
12:36she would like fit well with you on?
12:39Maybe it's okay.
12:40I'm okay.
12:40Yeah.
12:40I feel like that would be fire.
12:42That video would be nuts.
12:43It would be cool.
12:44Yeah.
12:44I mean, that would be pretty cool.
12:46That or greedy.
12:47I would say she'd sound good on.
12:48It feels like it fits, right?
12:49Yeah.
12:49Cool.
12:50Well, I can't wait to see how the tour shapes up in Asia.
12:52Again, can't wait to see you next weekend.
12:54It's okay.
12:54I'm okay out.
12:55Stream it.
12:57Call in on the radio and let us know to play it.
12:59And thank you so much for the time.
13:00It's always good to see you.
13:01You too.
13:02Thank you so much.