So Close to What

Tate McRae sparked one of 2025's most unexpected album cover controversies when she changed the artwork for So Close to What not once, but twice after its release. The original photoshoot took place in October 2025, featuring the Canadian pop star in various looks including beach-styled sarongs and beaded minidresses.

Ludovic de Saint Sernin and Ignacio Muñoz served as creative directors for the session. Saint Sernin, the fashion designer behind the provocative menswear label, brought his signature aesthetic of intimate vulnerability to the project. Muñoz, who works as image director for Saint Sernin's fashion house and has appeared in campaigns for brands like Jean Paul Gaultier, contributed his visual expertise to the shoot.

The album's release was preceded by drama when a version intended for physical production leaked online in January 2025, forcing McRae to write two additional songs and alter the final tracklist. This leak may have influenced her later decisions about the artwork, as she admitted feeling devastated by the premature exposure of unfinished material.

The original cover featured a zoomed-out, full-body, back-facing image of McRae. Three days after the February 21, 2025 release, she swapped this for a more intimate, zoomed-in, front-facing photograph showing her with crossed arms in a white tank top and denim shorts. The change drew mixed reactions from fans, with some calling it unprofessional while others praised its marketing potential.

Fans speculated wildly about the motivation behind the switch. Some theorized it was connected to the album leak, suggesting McRae wanted to distance herself from the compromised original version. Others saw it as a strategic move to generate discussion and keep the album trending on social media platforms.

The controversy deepened when McRae reversed course again, switching back to the original back-facing cover art. This second change prompted even more bewildered reactions from fans, with one commenting that she "must be bored" and another joking about her being "Miss Indecisive" instead of "Miss Possessive" (referencing her tour name).

Visually, both covers maintain a consistent aesthetic of minimalist intimacy. The original back-facing image creates mystery and introspection, aligning with the album's themes of self-discovery and uncertainty about fame. The alternative front-facing version offered more direct connection with viewers but sacrificed some artistic complexity.

The typography remained consistent across both versions, using a clean, lowercase font that complemented McRae's contemporary pop aesthetic. The color palette stayed muted and sophisticated, reflecting the album's blend of vulnerability and confidence that defined her artistic evolution from dance-pop to more mature R&B influences.

The album cover changes became a cultural moment that extended beyond music into social media discourse about artistic control and fan expectations. McRae's willingness to alter her vision post-release challenged traditional notions of album artwork as fixed artistic statements, instead treating them as fluid creative expressions.

The controversy ultimately served the album well commercially, as So Close to What debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and topped charts in ten countries. The constant discussion around the artwork kept the project in the cultural conversation longer than typical album cycles.

Despite the drama, both cover versions were photographed during the same October 2025 session, suggesting McRae and her creative directors had always planned multiple options. The decision to use both, however unconventionally, demonstrated an artist comfortable with experimentation and unafraid of public reaction to her creative choices.