Taylor Swift has saved 2020. At least that’s what her fans think now that she’s just dropped the surprise album “Folklore.” Taylor surprised everyone with the news just yesterday, sharing on social media that it’s “an entire album of brand new songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into.”
“Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening,” she writes on Instagram, referring to her Loverfest stadium shows, “but there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen. And that thing is my 8th studio album, folklore.”
While the songs wre written in “isolation,” Taylor did collaborate on the project with The National’s Aaron Dessner, who co-wrote and produced 11 of the 16 songs, as well as Bon Iver, who co-wrote and sings on one of them, Jack Antonoff, and more.
“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,” she notes. “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.”
But that’s not all…
Late last night Taylor released a video for the track “Cardigan,” which she co-wrote and directed herself. “The entire shoot was overseen by a medical inspector, everyone wore masks, stayed away from each other,” Tay writes, “and I even did my own hair, makeup, and styling ????.” Check it out to the right, as well as clips of some of the album’s other tracks.
In addition to the 16-track standard edition of “Folklore,” there will be a deluxe edition with a bonus track called “the lakes.” In honor of the record being her eighth studio album, Tay’s made, “8 deluxe CD editions and 8 deluxe vinyl editions that are available for one week????.” She adds, “Each deluxe edition has unique covers, photos, and artwork. Available exclusively at taylorswift.com.”
Taylor’s collaborator Aaron Dessner took to social media to share what it was like working with Taylor. “I was excited and honored when Taylor approached me in late April about maybe writing some songs remotely together,” Dessner wrote. “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.”
After releasing the album Taylor shared, “In isolation my imagination has run wild and this album is the result, a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness,” adding, “Picking up a pen was my way of escaping into fantasy, history, and memory. I’ve told these stories to the best of my ability with all the love, wonder, and whimsy they deserve. Now it’s up to you to pass them down.”
And just to note, Taylor decided to drop her surpise album on the same day her enemy Kanye West was scheduled to drop his record “Donda.” Coincidence? Who knows?
