i used to think i could fly

Tate McRae revealed both the title and cover art for i used to think i could fly on April 1, 2022, just over a month before the album's May 27 release through RCA Records. The timing was strategic, following her March 8 announcement that she had finalized the track listing and submitted it to her label.

The album title itself originated from McRae's childhood fascination with flight. As she explained to Variety, when asked what she wanted to do when she grew up as a child, she would respond that she wanted to learn how to fly. This concept of flight became a central metaphor for the emotional journey documented throughout her debut.

While specific details about the cover art's creation process remain undocumented, the artwork reflects the album's introspective themes. McRae designed the record as what she called a "rollercoaster of emotions," chronicling the ups and downs of growing up and experiencing heartbreak for the first time.

The album was initially planned as a 12-track release, but McRae confirmed the addition of "What's Your Problem?" when the official track listing was announced on April 11, 2022, bringing the total to 13 songs. This late addition would later create complications for physical releases.

Production credits reveal a collaborative approach with established names including Greg Kurstin, Finneas, Blake Slatkin, Alexander 23, Charlie Puth, and Louis Bell. However, creative direction details for the visual elements remain largely unreported in available sources.

The album's marketing materials credited Michelle Dawley as creative director and Tusk Creative for creative work, based on liner note information from Rate Your Music. These collaborators had also worked on McRae's music videos and promotional materials during this period.

i used to think i could fly received generally positive critical reception, earning a Metacritic score of 75 based on nine reviews. Critics praised McRae's vulnerability and the album's emotional authenticity, with DIY's Ims Taylor noting how she "confides her deepest feelings" to listeners.

The artwork supported an album that debuted at number 13 on the US Billboard 200 and entered the top 10 in various countries. Commercial success validated the visual and musical direction McRae had chosen for her full-length debut.

Limited edition versions appeared with alternate cover artwork, though specific details about these variations weren't extensively documented. Physical vinyl releases notably excluded the last-minute addition "What's Your Problem?" due to production timing constraints.

The cover art established a visual foundation that would influence McRae's subsequent aesthetic choices. Her follow-up album Think Later in 2023 would show evolution from this debut's more introspective visual approach.

Critically, the album was seen as McRae's successful transition from viral social media presence to legitimate recording artist. Pitchfork's Brady Bickner-Wood noted that her debut proved she was "capable of transcending online virality."

The album's visual presentation aligned with McRae's goal of authenticity over artifice. As she told interviewers, the songs were essentially "diary entries" of her genuine feelings, requiring artwork that matched this vulnerable artistic stance.

The Spotify and Apple Music presence helped establish the album's digital-first approach to music consumption, with streaming platforms becoming the primary way fans experienced both the music and its visual presentation throughout 2022 and beyond.