Taylor Swift announces follow-up album to folklore
New York – Christmas came early for Taylor Swift’s loyal legion of fans, as the US pop star announced Thursday she would drop her second surprise album of 2020 just months after this summer’s hit record folklore.
“I’m elated to tell you that my 9th studio album, and folklore’s sister record, will be out tonight at midnight eastern (0500 GMT Friday). It’s called evermore,” Swift tweeted, adding she would also release a music video for the single willow.
The album release comes a few days before she turns 31 on Dec 13.
“Ever since I was 13, I’ve been excited about turning 31 because it’s my lucky number backwards, which is why I wanted to surprise you with this now. You’ve all been so caring, supportive and thoughtful on my birthdays and so this time I thought I would give you something!” she said.
Swift this summer delighted fans with folklore, a quarantine album that saw her turn to atmospheric rock while embracing a dreamier aesthetic with 1960s-era Laurel Canyon vibes.
In her tweet thread, Swift indicated evermore – her ninth studio album – would be an extension of that ethereal sensibility.
“To put it plainly, we just couldn’t stop writing songs,” she said.
“I’ve never done this before. In the past I’ve always treated albums as one-off eras and moved onto planning the next one after an album was released. There was something different with folklore. In making it, I felt less like I was departing and more like I was returning.”
folklore – which earned the star six Grammy nominations – also saw the the famously introspective Swift delve into songwriting from the perspective of others, storytelling in the vein of American folk writers including John Prine, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.
“I loved the escapism I found in these imaginary/not imaginary tales,” Swift said.
“I loved the ways you welcomed the dreamscapes and tragedies and epic tales of love lost and found into your lives. So I just kept writing them.”
Swift once again collaborated with Aaron Dessner of rock band The National along with producer Jack Antonoff.
evermore will also, like folklore, include a duet with experimental indie artist Justin Vernon, founder of Bon Iver.
This time around, she also recorded a song with the Los Angeles band of sisters Haim. - AFP
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