Since the unauthorised release of Taylor Swift’s album by ex-manager Scooter Braun back in April, things have been mostly quiet for the singer…and now we know why.
Overnight, Taylor Swift began posting a string of images on her Instagram, moving towards a very different aesthetic than what we have come to know from the singer. Taylor followed these posts with a tweet announcing the drop of a surprise album at midnight Eastern Time (US).
The album, titled folklore, will be the 8th studio album from the artist, one which she has “poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into,” she said in her announcement statement. The album comes as a result of COVID-19, “most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening, but there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen,” she says of the project.
With 11 of the 16 tracks produced by Aaron Dessner, he says “I was excited and [honoured] when Taylor approached me in late April about maybe writing some songs together….Over the next few months, we remotely finished 11 songs (She also recorded several others with the amazing [Jack Antonoff] of her magical new album “folklore”. I’ve rarely been so inspired by someone and it’s still hard to believe this even happened — these songs came together in such a challenging time…I’m very proud and profoundly grateful to [Taylor Swift] for inviting me into and trusting me in her process. She is one of the most talented, hardworking and deeply caring artists I’ve ever encountered.”
She followed the announcement with the release of the track list on Instagram, which is 16 songs long on the standard edition, with a bonus track being available on the physical deluxe edition. The album announcement has also shocked and excited fans with the inclusion of a collaboration with Bon Iver.
In case an album drop wasn’t enough, Taylor will also be releasing the music video for song ‘Cardigan,’ which she wrote and directed herself at midnight Eastern Time (US).
You can pre-order the album here.