Taylor Swift – no matter your opinion of her – has been a staple in the pop music industry for most of our childhoods. Starting out with a country music background in 2006, her music style and voice have evolved dramatically into the indie folk/alternative genres that her latest albums fall under today.
She has produced several successful albums throughout her career, including “Fearless” (2008), “Speak Now” (2010), “Red” (2012), “1989” (2014), “Reputation” (2017), “Lover” (2019), and “Folklore” and “Evermore,” which were both released in 2020. Each of these albums had singles that were chart-topping, further strengthening her reputation as a music powerhouse. These works also demonstrate the way that she has changed as an artist throughout her career, which allows her fans to change with her along the way too.
Based on her previous work, Swift can be described as a creative machine, releasing five albums (including her re-recorded albums) in just two years starting in 2020. “Midnights” was just announced on her Instagram on August 28 and will mark that fifth album in such a short period of time. The album will be released this coming fall on October 21, telling “the story of thirteen sleepless nights scattered throughout [her] life,” according to Swift’s Instagram announcement
In the same Instagram post, Swift hints at having more profound ideals discussed in her albums. Swift writes that “this collection of music written in the middle of the night, [is] a journey through terrors and sweet dreams”. She states that her inner turmoil during these sleepless nights was her trying to find herself. In her earlier works, most people remember that her songs were more surface level, talking about her failed romances and young relationships that didn’t turn into anything. However, as she has gotten older and evolved as an artist, her songs have come to embody heavier and darker themes that the early Swift did not express. Things such as the way people perceive her in the limelight, infidelity, grief, and isolation have all been portrayed in her newer work.
Pre-orders of the album “Midnights” are being sold now, with vinyl, CD, cassette, and downloadable editions available. The feedback from her fans has been mostly positive and excited, with some wondering what direction she will go with this current release. As evidenced in the past, she is not afraid to experiment with new kinds of music, so fans should definitely expect something new in “Midnights.” Apple Music even has the new album labeled rock, so Swifties might get to see the artist explore a new genre.
Unfortunately, Swift’s new album will not be able to qualify for the next coming Grammy Awards. Nonetheless, this album should be expected to have a strong and successful release for Swift. Other huge releases this year include Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti” and Harry Style’s “Harry’s House,” but Swift’s latest release is anticipated to rival these successes with her long-supporting fan base.
Swift is an example of how the music industry is continuously changing, as the artists producing the music keep developing and growing up. No matter what anybody thinks of her, Swift has not let her critics deter her from trying new styles or breaking out of her normal musical habits. Her newly announced album “Midnight” will be something to look forward to, as it portrays the feelings of her current self and will be a case in point of the ever-developing music industry.
