Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Taylor Swift to release surprise new album Folklore

It features collaborations with Bon Iver, The National's Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff

Ellie Harrison
Thursday 23 July 2020 08:04 EDT
Comments
Taylor Swift joins One World: Together at Home as last performer of the night

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Taylor Swift has announced a surprise new album titled Folklore.

The record, which is her first since 2019's Lover, will be released tonight (23 July) at midnight EST in the US and 5am in the UK.

"I’ll be releasing my entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into," the singer wrote on Instagram.

Swift revealed that despite writing and recording the album in isolation, she got to collaborate with "musical heroes" of hers, including The National's Aaron Dessner, Bon Iver and Jack Antonoff.

"Before this year," she wrote, "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."

Swift concluded her post: "That’s the side of uncertainty I can get on board with. Love you guys so much."

The album's 16-song tracklist, which includes "illicit affairs" and "mad woman", can also be viewed in full here.

The artwork shows Swift standing in the middle of a forest.

Swift said making the album is one of the few things she had planned this year that was actually able to go ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic. One notable item on the agenda that has been cancelled is Swift's first ever Glastonbury performance, as the festival has been postponed until next year.

Folklore will be Swift's eighth studio album, following Taylor Swift (2006), Fearless (2008), Speak Now (2010), Red (2012), 1989 (2014), Reputation (2017), Lover (2019).

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in