Folklore

The surprise album made in isolation during lockdown, with fictional characters and Aaron Dessner as its main producer.
Taylor Swift, 2020

Released: July 24, 2020
Recorded: 2020
Studio: Swift's home studio in Los Angeles; Long Pond Studio, Hudson Valley, New York
Label: Republic Records
Producer: Aaron Dessner, Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift
Length: 63:29

Swift announced the album on July 23, 2020 and released it the next day. With recording studios closed, she built a home studio in Los Angeles with engineer Laura Sisk and exchanged files with the producers Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff. Dessner worked on eleven of the 16 tracks and Antonoff on five. My Tears Ricochet was the first song written, and Cardigan, based on a Dessner sketch called Maple, was the first she wrote with Dessner. Justin Vernon of Bon Iver joined her on Exile. The last songs written were The 1 and Hoax.

Dessner told Sound On Sound that they worked remotely, with live sessions linked through Audiomovers. Swift said she put Easter eggs in the lyrics, and Cardigan, August and Betty share fictional characters. The album spent eight weeks at number one in the United States, was the best-selling album of 2020 there and won Album of the Year at the 2021 Grammys.

Track listing

The 13:30
Cardigan3:59
The Last Great American Dynasty3:51
Exile (featuring Bon Iver)4:45
My Tears Ricochet4:15
Mirrorball3:29
Seven3:28
August4:21
This Is Me Trying3:15
Illicit Affairs3:10
Invisible String4:12
Mad Woman3:57
Epiphany4:49
Betty4:54
Peace3:54
Hoax3:40
The Lakes3:31

Personnel

Taylor Swift lead vocals, songwriting, production
Aaron Dessner production, songwriting, instruments
Jack Antonoff production, songwriting, instruments
Justin Vernon vocals on Exile
Bryce Dessner orchestration
Laura Sisk engineering
Beth Garrabrant photography

More from Taylor Swift

Fearless (2008), 1989 (2014), Evermore (2020), Midnights (2022)

Sources

Folklore (Taylor Swift album), Wikipedia
Aaron Dessner: Producing Folklore and Evermore, Sound On Sound