It takes a lot of work to keep a big release a surprise these days. What with eagle-eyed stans keeping abreast of secret video shoots, new website URLs and studio sessions, we often know about new records before artists really wanted us to. So massive kudos to Taylor Swift. The US singer has just dropped folklore, a surprise new album. In the immortal words of Dannii Minogue, 'I wasn't expecting that at all.' And it's getting five-star reviews from fans and critics alike.
Taylor acknowledged that 2020 has been a bit of a year for all of us, leading to the cancellation of her Glastonbury headline set as well as various other gigs. But the new album has been her unexpected silver lining.
'Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening,' she wrote on her socials. '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.' She confirms that she wrote and produced the whole album - which will be available in eight deluxe editions - in isolation, and has collaborated with a team including Bon Iver.
'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.' The video for her song, Cardigan, will be out tonight too.
It follows hit albums like last year's Lover, Red, 1989, and Reputation, among others, and we're sure we'll be wandering through meadows in linen skirts with the music in our earphones as soon as we get a sunny weekend.
The merchandise is already available via the new website, including a cardigan that feels very, very English to us. Perhaps Taylor's boyfriend - British actor Joe Alwyn - has been taking her to a cricket match or two.
See you all at midnight!
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