Swift recorded surprise album during quarantine
Taylor Swift made a surprise announcement Thursday, revealing she recorded a new album during quarantine and that it would drop at midnight.
“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. And that thing is my 8th studio album, ‘folklore.’ Surprise!” she wrote on Instagram. “Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into. I wrote and recorded this music in isolation but got to collaborate with some musical heroes of mine.”
Swift, whose last album “Lover” was released in August 2019, was forced to cancel her summer tour due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, she spent the last few months writing and recording with the likes of The National’s Aaron Dessner, Bon Iver, William Bowery and frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff.
“I’m very proud of all these songs and profoundly grateful to Taylor for inviting me into and trusting me in her process,” tweeted Dessner, who co-wrote or produced 11 of the 16 tracks. “She is one of the most talented, hardworking and deeply caring artists I’ve ever encountered. There’s a palpable humanity and warmth and raw emotion in these songs that I hope you’ll love and take comfort in as much as I do.”
The involvement of Dessner and Bon Iver, not to mention the name of the album, seem to suggest the new disc could have a more folk or alt-country sound than Swift’s most recent work, which leaned heavily on pop. The first single is called “cardigan.” The song’s music video, conceived and directed by Swift, also was set to be released at midnight.
“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.”