Taylor Swift to release new album ‘Folklore’ at midnight
Taylor Swift surprise-announced that she will be releasing her eighth studio album, “Folklore,” at midnight tonight — July 24th.
In a social media posts, Swift explained that the album is the result of many of her plans for 2020 — including a short stadium tour supporting her 2019 album “Lover” — were scrapped due to the pandemic. In lockdown, she wrote the new album’s songs in isolation, collaborating with Aaron Dessner of the National, Bon Iver, William Bowery and Jack Antonoff.
Swift is a longtime National fan who was seen mingling backstage at the band’s June 2019 concert at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Surprise 🤗 Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my 8th studio album, folklore; an entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into. Pre-order at https://t.co/zSHpnhUlLbpic.twitter.com/4ZVGy4l23b
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 23, 2020
At some point on Thursday evening she will release a music video for the song “Cardigan,” which she directed, noting that the shoot was “overseen by a medical inspector, everyone wore masks, stayed away from each other, and I even did my own hair, make-up and styling.”
She described the album as “entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears and musings into… Before this year, I probably would’ve overthought when to release this music at the ‘perfect time,’ but the times we’re living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed. My gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world. That’s the side of uncertainty I can get on board with.”
A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:00am PDT
Aaron Dessner wrote on social media that Swift approached him to co-write some songs in late April. “I thought it would take awhile for song ideas to come and I had no expectations as far as what we could accomplish remotely,” he admits. “But a few hours after sharing music, my phone lit up with a voice memo from Taylor of a fully written version of a song — the momentum never really stopped.”
A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:03am PDT
As for the album’s timing, Swift wrote, “Before this year I probably would have overthought when to release this music at the ‘perfect’ time, but the times we’re living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed. My gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world. That’s the side of uncertainty I can get on board with.”
Tracklist
1.” The 1” 2. “Cardigan” 3. “The Last Great American Dynasty” 4. “Exile” (feat. Bon Iver) 5. “My Tears Ricochet” 6. “Mirrorball” 7. “Seven” 8. “August” 9. “This Is Me Trying” 10. “Illicit Affairs” 11. “Invisible String” 12. “Mad Woman” 13. “Epiphany” 14. “Betty” 15. “Peace” 16. “Hoax”
Bonus track: “The Lakes”
A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:08am PDT