Surprise! Taylor Swift excited fans with a series of social media posts Thursday morning announcing that her eighth studio album, previously dubbed TS8 by fans, and now officially called folklore, is dropping at midnight Thursday night.
This comes after much speculation by fans that the “Delicate” songstress had a new album ready to go. According to the 30-year-old-singer, this was not scheduled at all. In her first statement, posted simultaneously to her Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, she said, “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 is my 8th studio album, folklore.”
On top of an album, Swift is also releasing the music video for “cardigan,” a song and video she wrote and directed. “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,” she assured.
Swift explained that she penned the entire album while in quarantine, but was still able to collaborate with “musical heroes” of hers: Aaron Dessner, Bon Iver who is featured on the track “exile,” William Bowery, and a frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff, who she calls family.
The country-turned-pop icon wrapped up her heartfelt post by offering insight to how she has grown over this turbulent time in the world. “Before this year I probably would’ve overthought when to release this music…my gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world.” This album follows last summer’s Lover, an album she has not yet toured for due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Because it’s her eighth studio album, Taylor has created eight deluxe CDs & eight deluxe vinyls available for one week, all with different photos. The standard edition of folklore includes 16 new songs, but the deluxe edition has a bonus track titled “the lakes.” The standard digital album sells for $8.99, while the deluxe edition CDs are $13 and the vinyls are $26. Each deluxe copy is packaged with a standard digital album.
Fans can pre-order Swift’s new music and merch now at store.taylorswift.com.
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What a talented lady!
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