In a candid revelation during her Australian leg of the “Eras” tour, Taylor Swift peeled back the layers of her creative process, exposing the raw emotions that fueled the making of her surprise album, Folklore. Contrary to the idyllic image of a ghostly Victorian lady wandering through the woods with a candle and quill, Swift confessed to feeling like “a lonely millennial woman covered in cat hair drinking my weight in white wine.”
Folklore, which Swift dropped in July 2020 with no prior marketing, marked a significant departure from her previous albums. Shedding the vibrant pop tones of Lover and the edgier electropop of Reputation, Folklore delved into what can only be described as “cottage-core” vibes—mellow, stripped-down ballads exploring fictional love triangles and complex female characters.
Despite the album’s introspective and solitary themes, Swifties were quick to point out that Swift wasn’t exactly alone during the creative process. Sharing a home with her then-boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, who even contributed to songwriting credits on the album, Swift’s revelation sparked speculation among fans. Many interpreted Folklore’s introspective tone as a harbinger of Swift’s eventual split from Alwyn, which was officially announced in April 2023 after six and a half years of dating.
In the wake of their breakup, Swift’s personal life has become more public than ever before. Spotted cheering on Travis Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium just months after the split, Swift’s romantic entanglements have been under intense scrutiny, contrasting sharply with her previously private relationship with Alwyn.
As Swift navigates the complexities of love and loss, her candid confession about loneliness and white wine offers a poignant glimpse into the emotional landscape that shaped one of her most introspective albums yet.