Taylor Swift drops bombshell as she announces she is releasing a SURPRISE eighth album named Folklore at midnight
- The singer, 30, revealed she would release the 16-track album at midnight
- Taylor said she wrote the songs during lockdown
- Her first single is Cardigan and the music video will also premiere at midnight
- Folklore will be the songstress’ eight album, her last named Lover was released last year
- It comes after Taylor said she was ‘so sad’ not to headline Glastonbury this year
- The Grammy award winner was scheduled to take to the main stage on the Sunday night of the music festival
Taylor Swift has revealed she will release her eighth album, named Folklore, at midnight.
The singer, 30, took to Instagram on Thursday to make the surprise announcement, first teasing jigsaw pieces of her album artwork before posting a black and white photo which showed Taylor walking through a forest.
Taylor said she created the album, consisting of 16 songs, during lockdown as songwriting helped her ‘pour all of my whims, dreams, fears and musings into’.
Surprise! Taylor Swift delighted fans on Thursday when she revealed she was releasing her eighth album, named Folklore, at midnight
Alongside the album artwork, which also included a teaser of the music video for her new single Cardigan, Taylor wrote: ‘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).
Exciting: Taylor said she created the album during lockdown as songwriting helped her ‘pour all of my whims, dreams, fears and musings into’ (pictured in December)
Mysterious: The singer took to Instagram on Thursday to make the surprise announcement, first teasing jigsaw pieces of her album artwork
‘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.’
Taylor also posted a screen grab from the music video of her song Cardigan, which she says will also premiere at midnight to coincide with the album release.
She wrote: ‘The music video for Cardigan will premiere tonight, which I wrote/directed.’
After thanking a long list of people who helped her film the music video, Taylor added: ‘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.’
Countdown is on: Taylor also posted a screen grab from the music video of her song Cardigan, which she says will also premiere at midnight to coincide with the album release
Taylor’s surprise announcement comes after she told The Sun it was ‘so sad’ Glastonbury was cancelled, but it was ‘the right decision’.
The songstress was scheduled to perform her chart-topping hits at the music festival, which had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Taylor said: ‘I wanted to perform in places I hadn’t performed in as much, do things I hadn’t done — like Glastonbury. It’s so sad. But I know it’s the right decision.’
The Lover singer was set to headline the festival on Sunday night and announced her appearance on Instagram back in December.