Taylor Swift Announces Surprise Eighth Studio Album 'folklore'

The eight different covers for Taylor Swift’s eighth album, ‘folklore’ (Photo Credit: Beth Garrabrant)

Taylor Swift is taking a page out of Beyoncé’s playbook and releasing a surprise album on Friday, July 24^th. The new album, folklore, is described by Swift as “an entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into.” folklore features 16 songs with 11 songs co-written or produced by The National’s Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver co-writing and singing on one song.

Swift’s explanation for releasing her eighth album so soon is summed up on a graphic the singer put up on her Twitter account.

To commemorate folklore as her eighth album, Swift made eight different covers for the album: ‘in the trees,’ ‘in the weeds,’ ‘meet me behind the mall,’ ‘betty’s garden,’ ‘stolen lullabies,’ ‘hide-and-seek,’ ‘running like water,’ and ‘clandestine meetings.’

The video of the first single off of folklore, ‘cardigan,’ is directed by Swift herself and premiered on YouTube at midnight on the 24^th.