Taylor Swift Shocks Fans With Surprise Album Announce

Taylor Swift has shocked and delighted fans by announcing a surprise album, set to release at the stroke of midnight (July 24).

Titled folklore and marking her eighth studio set, the project is comprised of 16 tracks, with a bonus edition including one more. The country-turned-pop superstar says she was compelled to write and record the project while in quarantine, pouring all of her “whims, dreams, fears, and musings” into it and working with some bucket-list collaborators. And in distinctly non-Swift fashion, she decided to release the mysterious album as soon as possible, rather than craft the perfect launch plan.

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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 🤗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; @aarondessner (who has co-written or produced 11 of the 16 songs), @boniver (who co-wrote and was kind enough to sing on one with me), William Bowery (who co-wrote two with me) and @jackantonoff (who is basically musical family at this point). Engineered by Laura Sisk and Jon Low, mixed by Serban Ghenea & Jon Low. The album photos were shot by the amazing @bethgarrabrant. 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. Love you guys so much ♥️

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:00am PDT

“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 said on Instagram. “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.”

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folklore will have 16 songs on the standard edition, but the physical deluxe editions will include a bonus track called “the lakes.” Because this is my 8th studio album, I made 8 deluxe CD editions and 8 deluxe vinyl editions that are available for one week😄 Each deluxe edition has unique covers, photos, and artwork. Available exclusively at taylorswift.com

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:03am PDT

The album artwork features a mystical-feeling forest, with Swift dressed in a long overcoat and delicate dress to give a fairy-like impression. In honor of her eighth release, she’ll offer fans eight different deluxe versions in CD and vinyl formats, with different art and photos in each which. And she’s also announced the release of the project’s first music video, dropping the self-written and directed clip for “Cardigan” tonight as well.

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The music video for “cardigan” will premiere tonight, which I wrote/directed. A million thank you’s to my brilliant, bad ass video team – cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, producer Jil Hardin, executive producer Rebecca Skinner, AD Joe ‘Oz’ Osbourne, editor Chancler Haynes, special effects wizards David Lebensfeld & Grant Miller, and set designer Ethan Tobman. 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 😂

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:08am PDT

folklore is Swift’s first album since 2019’s Lover, and arrives on the same weekend she had planned to perform the second of only two American stadium shows this year.