The past year has brought quite a few changes for Taylor Swift. The 30-year-old singer has slowly but surely shared insight into her relationship with Joe Alwyn, and even (sort of) opened up in a documentary, Miss Americana. She even made the extremely vulnerable move of sharing a video of herself crying over a banana with the public. Still, it came as something of a shock on Thursday when Swift announced that in less than 24 hours, she would be releasing an entire new album, without all the usual bells and whistles. (Though she did do enough behind-the-scenes calculations to create merch like a cardigan, in a nod to Folklore’s second track.)
But it wouldn’t be Swift if she didn’t throw in a few Easter eggs—the first of which came in her album announcement. “I wrote and recorded this music in isolation but got to collaborate with some musical heroes of mine,” the singer posted on Instagram, tagging Aaron Dessner (of The National), Jack Antonoff (“who is basically musical family at this point”), and Bon Iver. Amidst those familiar names, there was another “musical hero” Swift didn’t tag: William Bowery, who apparently co-wrote the songs “Exile” and “Betty.”
Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening, but there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen. And that thing is my 8th studio album, folklore. Surprise ?Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into. I wrote and recorded this music in isolation but got to collaborate with some musical heroes of mine; @aarondessner (who has co-written or produced 11 of the 16 songs), @boniver (who co-wrote and was kind enough to sing on one with me), William Bowery (who co-wrote two with me) and @jackantonoff (who is basically musical family at this point). Engineered by Laura Sisk and Jon Low, mixed by Serban Ghenea & Jon Low. The album photos were shot by the amazing @bethgarrabrant. Before this year I probably would’ve overthought when to release this music at the ‘perfect’ time, but the times we’re living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed. My gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world. That’s the side of uncertainty I can get on board with. Love you guys so much ♥️
A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on
Even the most die-hard Swifties didn’t recognize Bowery’s name. Naturally, investigations commenced immediately. When Google betrayed them, they came together to speculate. After all, Swift has used a songwriter pseudonym in the past; she was credited as “Nils Sjöberg” on her ex-boyfriend Calvin Harris’s song “This Is What You Came For” in 2016.
Some are of the opinion that Bowery is Swift’s younger brother Austin, who was recently thought to be behind the fake band Jack Leopards and the Dolphin Club’s cover of Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do.” Others think it’s much more likely that the “musical hero” in question is Joni Mitchell, who once made a painting titled Bowery Bum and has long inspired Swift.
Those connections seem tenuous, at best. Much more plausible is the idea that Bowery is in fact Alwyn, who figured prominently in Swift’s last album, Lover. The actor’s great-grandfather was a composer named William, and one of the first times the couple hung out was at a Kings of Leon concert after-party inside New York City’s Bowery Hotel. Plus, they’re famously private about their relationship.
There’s also the fact that Alwyn’s mother is named Elizabeth, which could have been referenced in the title of “Betty.” Then again, it doesn’t seem likely that Alwyn and Swift would name a forlorn romance song about his mom. And, as E! points out in a so-called “BFF Fun Fact,” the song could nod to two entirely people in Swift’s life: James and Inez, whose names also figure prominently in the lyrics, also happen to be the names of Swift’s pal Blake Lively’s kids.
Related: In Her Most Vulnerable Move Yet, Taylor Swift Cries Over a Banana
Source: Read Full Article