Courtesy of Los Angeles Magazine

Social media sites were flooded with news that Taylor Swift had announced a surprise album titled “Folklore” on Thursday, July 23, to be released the following day. Swift’s fans, popularly known as “Swifties,” were exceedingly ecstatic, showing worldwide love and support in anticipation of the new album. “Folklore” is Swift’s eighth studio album that contains 16 tracks produced by Swift herself, together with Aaron Dessner and longtime friend and collaborator Jack Antonoff.

The album draws from genres like indie folk and a little bit of alternative rock and pop. Swift gives fans a glimpse of her past life, with themes such as love, loss, nostalgia, emotion and desire to name a few. The album’s lyrics and musical arrangement also make “Folklore” worth listening to. 

This past year has been quite eventful for the pop star. In addition to releasing “Lover” last year, she also starred in the Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana,” which reveals the details of her life both on and off-stage, the highs and lows of her career, her stance on the current political climate and how she has evolved into the person she is today. If audiences take one thing away from the film, it should be that Swift was able to rise from the ashes and prove to the world that no matter what happens, you can always be yourself and show everyone what you are capable of. Furthermore, Swift was awarded with “Artist of the Decade (2010s)” at the 2019 American Music Awards, along with Billboard’s first ever “Woman of the Decade (2010s).”

On “Folklore,” there are many songs to look forward to, but there are some especially honorable mentions.

“The 1” refers to the nostalgia of looking back at past relationships and imagining what it would have been like if things had gone differently.

“Cardigan” hints at a lost romance, looking back through memories and the bittersweet mark that they leave even after a relationship ends.

“Exile” provides a rather somber tone with additional vocals by Bon Iver. The song paints a picture of two people who were previously in a relationship having a chance meeting after many years of separation. The song discusses the pain that comes along with reminiscing about the past, parting ways and the struggle of having to move on. 

“August” refers to a bittersweet summer romance and the nostalgic memories which passed by in an instant – it’s a perfect song for long car rides.

“Epiphany” has a parallel significance toward both healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and soldiers who risk their lives on the battlefield, as experienced by her grandfather who served in the military. People in both fields work incredibly hard to help others and live with uncertainty every single day. This song is most likely dedicated to those on the frontline, as well as the dream of better days ahead.

“Hoax,” the last track, is an impressive conclusion for the album, as it ends with a bang. Even though the song has a melancholic, dark and depressing theme, it perfectly represents the feeling of being in a toxic relationship, along with the struggle of letting go.

Overall, “Folklore” is truly one of Taylor Swift’s best albums yet. It is clear that Swift has taken a successful turn into indie folk with this album. All of the songs will leave listeners fascinated, wanting to understand the lyrics, explore the deeper meaning behind them and find out where Swift is coming from. “Folklore” has also been a huge success commercially, breaking streaming records with over 80 million streams on Spotify and over 36 million streams on Apple Music, all within the first 24 hours of release.

“Folklore” gives listeners a peak into Swift’s method of songwriting and emotional storytelling by utilizing strong lyrics, as well as her ability to combine elements of pop, alternative rock and indie folk successfully. Nobody knows what Taylor Swift will come up with next, but it is sure to be yet another success!