Taylor Swift Announces New Album, ‘Folklore’, Will Drop Tonight
The star said, the 16-song album was written “in isolation,” describing it as a project she “poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into.”
Less than a year after the release of her hugely successful Lover, Taylor Swift has surprised fans with an announcement that her eighth studio album, Folklore, will be released tonight at midnight EDT.
“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,” Swift, 30, wrote in a series of social media posts Thursday morning. “And that thing is my 8th studio album, folklore. Surprise.”
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/zSHpnhUlLb pic.twitter.com/4ZVGy4l23b
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 23, 2020
Swift fans are used to the singer dropping clues up to months in advance about her next musical endeavor, but she did away with the long build up this time. Instead, the hints took place over the course of less than 10 minutes this morning, while Swift posted nine separate Instagram photos to create a mosaic image of herself isolated in the woods before the album reveal came.
Swift said the entire 16-song album was written “in isolation,” going on to describe it as a project she “poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into.”
A music video for the song “Cardigan” will release at the same time. Amid coronavirus shutdowns in the United States, Swift noted that the “entire shoot was overseen by a medical inspector, everyone wore masks, stayed away from each other, and I even did my own hair, makeup, and styling.”
Swift’s self-titled debut album was released nearly 14 years ago. Since then, fans have followed the singer from a country music newbie to a world-famous pop star, averaging about one album every two years.
“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,” Swift wrote. “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.”
Some of Swift’s collaborators on her upcoming album include Jack Antonoff, who she described as “basically musical family at this point,” Bon Iver, Aaron Dessner of rock band The National and William Bowery.
Folklore includes the following tracks:
“The 1”
“Cardigan”
“The Last Great American Dynasty”
“Exile” (featuring Bon Iver)
“My Tears Ricochet”
“Mirrorball”
“Seven”
“August”
“This is Me Trying”
“Illicit Affairs”
“Invisible String”
“Mad Woman”
“Epiphany”
“Betty”
“Peace”
“Hoax”
“The Lakes” (Bonus Track).
Listen to the best of Taylor Swift on Apple Music and Spotify.
