Behind: Housewife by Tate McRae
Written By Alannah Cannon
Tate McRae’s newest single ‘Housewife’ was released on the 15th of October 2026, and it is her first release in nearly a year. This pop song is the lead single for her up and coming fourth studio album, which has yet to be named.
This release may have come as a shock to some people, despite the teasers and easter eggs in the months leading up to the announcement. The first tease being at her performance at Lollapalooza on the 2nd of August. The official announcement came via Instagram on the 7th of October which features the cover art for the song, and later she spoke about it on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jimmy Fallon. She joked “My fans in particular, like, we drop easter eggs all the time and they get none of them.”
‘Housewife’ is very much a song about independence and the desire of this woman to live how she wants to, without ‘needing’ a man, “I don’t need you, I want you”.
The repeated phrase in the chorus throughout the song, “I just wanna make a lot of money, be my own housewife” is very testament to this idea. McRae speaks about this freedom in her interview with Jimmy Fallon, “it’s kind of about a woman who can’t be contained”.
This song features groovy drums, synthesisers and a simple bass line. It is quite electronic, but meshes well with McRae’s softer voice, not at all overpowering. It features layered vocals to accompany the simple melody.
I particularly enjoy the bridge where the drums stop, allowing her voice to shine through until they come back for the final chorus. The short instrumental in the end which stops suddenly makes me think that it may lead smoothly straight into the next song on the album, which she did not do on her 2025 album ‘SO CLOSE TO WHAT???’. It is a concept I enjoy and would like to see more of in general.
The music video was shot in the South of France and McRae described shooting as “magical” and “fun”. It was teased on the 14th of October before being premiered the next day. It perfectly encapsulates the meaning of the song, rewriting the narrative of the term ‘Housewife’ into something more positive and empowering for women.
McRae admits there are many meanings to the song, but comes out with a powerful statement, “I can play any role I want, I can do anything I want,”, and it is not just about life and relationships, but also about the music industry in particular, which she darkly alludes to within the song, “This industry will try to kill you”.
While the album is yet to have a release date, this song is a great introduction and has fans excited for what is to come.
I gave the single four stars because I like the message and the music. I am looking forward to hearing it in context with the rest of the album when it is released. I believe that the album will be a great success and inspiration to young women in the industry and ‘Housewife’ is an incredible lead single, which is already gaining traction.