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)
Bombshell! Taylor wrote: ‘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’
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.’
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 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.’
The surprise album release comes just one day ahead of the release of her arch enemy Kanye West’s album Donda, meaning the pair with battle it out in the charts.
Following the announcement, Twitter was flooded with excited Tweets from fans.
Thrilled: Following the announcement, Twitter was flooded with excited Tweets from fans
One wrote: ‘There has never been a single moment in my life where i have anticipated something taylor swift has done, she surprises me… every… single.. time.’
Another added: ‘So you’re telling me right as I’m trying to get through the breakdown that is #10YearsOfOneDirection Taylor Swift decides time drop another album??? My childhood self can’t take this’.
A third fan chimed: ‘NEW ALBUM TONIGHT IM CRYING SO HARD’.
A fourth added: ‘@taylorswift single handedly saved 2020 with this surprise album I’m not emotionally stable’.
Creative: Referencing lockdown, 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’
Taylor’s last album release, Lover, was in 2019. Her 2006 eponymous debut studio album was the longest-charting album of the 2000s.
Having sold more than 50 million albums and 150 million singles globally, Swift is one of the world’s best-selling music artists of all time.
Her accolades include 10 Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and seven Guinness World Records; she is the most-awarded act and woman at the American Music Awards (29 wins) and Billboard Music Awards (23 wins), respectively.
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.
Star: Taylor’s last album release, Lover, was in 2019. Her 2006 eponymous debut studio album was the longest-charting album of the 2000s (pictured in November)