Taylor Swift surprised fans this morning with the announcement that her eighth studio album, Folklore, will drop tonight, July 23, at midnight. “Most of the things I had planned for this summer didn’t end up happening, but there is something I hadn’t planned that DID happen,” wrote Swift in a statement posted to her social media channels. “Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing an entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into.”
Swift shared she wrote most of the album “in isolation” but also collaborated with some her of musical heroes, including Aaron Dessner of The National, Bon Iver, songwriter William Bowery and producer Jack Antonoff. The album will have 16 songs, plus a bonus track, “the lakes,” on the deluxe edition.
“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 continued. “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 first single from the album, “cardigan,” along with a music video written and directed by Swift will also drop this evening.
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 pic.twitter.com/2hNXnzFbwY
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 23, 2020
See the complete track list below:
- the 1
- cardigan
- the last great american dynasty
- exile (featuring bon iver)
- my tears ricochet
- mirrorball
- seven
- august
- this is me trying
- illicit affairs
- mad woman
- epiphany
- betty
- peace
- hoax
- Bonus track: the lakes
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