Since releasing her debut album, Taylor Swift, in 2006, Taylor Swift has become a household name all over the world and has experimented with multiple genres including  folk, country and pop. After releasing her record, “Folklore”, right after the 2020 lockdown, fans were not expecting anything from the musician for a couple of years. Swift surprised her fans with a new album, unlike anything she has ever done before. Swift provides what she calls a sister record to ‘folklore’ for her fans titled “Evermore”.  

After years of wild success, Swift was finally allowed to play with her music and give her fans an album filled with heart-wrenching songs that promise tears to its audience. “Evermore” leaves its listeners in awe of Swift’s raw talent and gifts them a belief that after heartbreak there can be happiness. 

  Swift created her indie inspired album alongside musicians Bon Iver, Aaron Dessner and William Bowery. William Bowery is an alias for Joe Alwyn, Swift’s boyfriend. Swift is best known for heartache curing breakup songs that scream of how men are no good, but for the first time in her career, Swift creates alongside her boyfriend instead of writing songs about their unfortunate ending. 

Story songs are at the heart of “Evermore”. In the song “Tis the Damn Season,” listeners are introduced to Dorthea,  a Hollywood actress, who returns to her hometown and reunites with an old flame. This song demonstrates Swift’s availability to mix soft beats with her natural, raspy voice. “Tis the Damn Season” leaves its audience reflecting on one’s great mistakes in romances of the past with the lyrics, “And the road not taken looks real good now and it always leads to you in my hometown.”

Listeners get to continue on a journey with Dorthea throughout the album. In the song, “Dorthea”, we get to hear the man’s side of the story as he longs for his dearest love to be closer to him. Swift brings a feeling of a being in one’s hometown by enlisting piano in her song to create the picture of sitting by the fireplace singing. “Dorthea” also discusses a man’s emotions in a positive way which is a monumental change for Swift. 

Swift goes back to her roots with the country ballad, “no body no crime”, featuring the girl band and friends of Swift, HAIM. The song’s chorus, “I think he did it, but I just can’t prove it. No, no body, no crime. But I ain’t lettin’ up until the day I die,” stays in listeners’ heads for days. This song is unlike anything else on the album and brings a fun twist. 

On “Tolerate it”, Swift rivals some of her iconic troubled relationship songs of the past. She sings of a woman who puts her all into her significant other and is met with nothing. She portrays the indescribable feeling of a slow and painful heartbreak that could be compared to death. Swift’s voice is at the point of almost cracking and she effectively makes it sound like she is experiencing this feeling herself.  She closes the song with the lyrics, “Tell me I’ve got it wrong somehow. I know my love should be celebrated. But you tolerate it.” This displays the character in the song’s loss of self-worth. ‘Tolerate it” is my favorite song on the album as it gives words to an indescribable feeling. 

Swift effectively created an album that took the world by storm and offered her fans something fresh. This record was beautifully done and proves that country, pop, folk and indie can be combined. I enjoyed listening to this album very much as each song applies to a different mood.  This album is perfect for any longtime Swiftie but also welcomes anyone willing to step out of their comfort zone with open arms. For more about concert audio visual hire, check this site at https://av-hire.uk/pa-hire/.