Taylor Swift says writing 'Tortured Poets Department' was a 'lifeline'
Taylor Swift performs at Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 16, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.
Graham Denholm/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights ManagementTaylor Swift “needed” to pour her thoughts and feelings into her upcoming album, The department of tortured poets.
“I had to make it. It was really a lifeline for me,” Swift, 34, said during her Friday, February 16, concert in Melbourne, Australia, per social media film material. “It kind of reminded me why songwriting is something that gets me through life, and I've never had an album where I needed more songwriting than on the album. Martyred poets.”
The department of tortured poetsSwift's 11th studio album, released April 19. During her Eras tour During her concert on Friday, she revealed that there will be a special bonus version of the LP.
'I wanted to show you something tonight because we have an alternate cover The department of tortured poets that no one has seen and there's an exclusive song on this vinyl called “The Bolter,” Swift said, ahead of her surprise song performance of “You're Losing Me,” a 2022 vault track. Midnights. “This is called 'The Bolter Edition.' Look at that cover, it's so tortured [and] so poetic. I wanted to show you that here in Melbourne because you've just been the best you could be.
Marcelo Endelli/TAS23/Getty Images While Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department came as a surprise to fans, the pop star seemingly dropped several Easter eggs, hinting that her eleventh studio album was on the way. Swift unveiled her latest musical venture as she accepted the award for Best Pop Vocal Album – her 13th career win – […]
The “Bolter” version features a sepia-toned photo of Swift lying on a bed while looking into the distance, recreated by Beth Garrabrant. The new edition of The department of tortured poets is currently available for pre-order on Swift's website.
Taylor Swift performs at Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 16, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.
Graham Denholm/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights ManagementSwift announced TTPD at the 2024 Grammys earlier this month, when she won best pop vocal album.
“[The way I can celebrate] is to tell you a secret that I have been hiding from you for the past two years, which is that my brand new album will be released on April 19th,” she said in her acceptance speech. “It is called The Department of Martyred Poets and I'm now going to place the cover backstage.
Swift, who won Album of the Year for the fourth time on Feb. 4, hadn't always planned to reveal TTPD at the Grammys.
“I told my friends, I told them Jac [Antonoff], but I hadn't really told many other people. I thought, 'Okay, if I'm lucky enough to win one thing tonight, I'm just going to do it. I'm just going to announce my album,” she said during one of her performances Eras concerts in Japan days later. “And luckily that ended up happening.”
Taylor Swift performs at Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 16, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.
Graham Denholm/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights ManagementSwift added: “My backup plan was I would do it in Tokyo tonight. But thanks to you and your support, I was fortunate enough to win a Grammy and tell you about it on stage at the Grammys. … We can debrief tonight and talk about it.”
Swift has since revealed the tracklist for The department of tortured poets, with many fans speculating that it is a record inspired by a breakup. Song titles include 'So Long, London', 'But Daddy I Love Him', 'I Can Fix Him (No, Really, I Can)' and 'Down Bad'. An extra bonus track is called 'The Manuscript'.
Swifties have theorized that TTPD breaks Swift's six-year divorce from her boyfriend, Joe Alwynwhich We weekly confirmed in April 2023. She later moved on to Travis Kelcewho will make their romance public in September 2023.