Folklore

Taylor Swift has been known for genre switching in the past, most notably in 2014, when her fifth studio album 1989 took a turn from her then typical country towards 80s inspired synth pop. Now, in the current period of isolation, she has again shifted her sound. 

Her newest project, Folklore was a surprise release, only being announced a day before the record was due to drop. The album also comes just under a year after her last studio album Lover. In collaboration with Aaron Dessner (The National) and Jack Antonoff (Lorde, Bleachers, Fun.) as co-producers, Swift brings us an alternative project, and doing something lyrically unusual for her, telling fictional stories (hence the name).

Dessner and Antonoff work in elements of their own personal styles, while, again, maintaining the essence of Swifts general sound. The record uses a lot of piano, instead of synthesizer. And in place of drum machines and 808s, there are brush drums. Antonoff said in an Instagram post after the albums release that the album is mostly "full takes and not comps," something unusual for a pop star. 

As I said before, the thing that really stands out to me here is the lyricism. Swift really honed in on her story telling abilities on this album. She tells some personal stories, but the bulk of the work seems to be about characters she has created. She's even said that a few of the songs tell the same story, but from different perspectives. This entire record defiantly seems like a lyrical journey rather than a sonic one. 

A great extension to this album was released on November 25th. Swift, along with her two co-producers, performed all the songs at Aaron Dessner's Long Pond Studios. The Long Pond Studio Sessions were released exclusively on Disney+. The performances show the songs in the environment they were meant to be performed; an intimate and personal setting. Not only do they play the songs, but they discuss the inspiration and story's that inspired them. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver also makes a digital appearance to preform exile. If you've got the platform, I would highly recommend watching it. It greatly expands on the already great album. 

Trailer for the Long Pond Studio Sessions

I never really thought I'd hear Taylor Swift singing alternative style music. I was worried to see how her lyrics and musical style would translate to the genre, but I was wrong to. As Swift has proved before, her voice and lyrical work translate very well across genres. This record shows that Swift has begun to focus more on the music she wants to make, rather than the music the public expects her to make. 

NCB