Taylor Swift borrowed a couple of seconds of her MTV VMAs speech for Video of the Yr to drop a bombshell: Her tenth album, Midnights, is coming in two months, on Oct. 21. Addressing her fans, she said, “I had kind of made up my mind that when you were going to be this generous and provides us this,” referencing the Video of the Yr award, “I assumed it is likely to be a fun moment to inform you that my brand-new album comes out October twenty first. And I’ll inform you more at midnight.” Shortly after, she modified her social media bios to read “meet me at midnight,” to construct hype for the unrolling. The phrase soon sprouted up as a trending hashtag on Twitter.
When 12 a.m. rolled around, Swift gave ample detail on what to anticipate along with her tenth studio album—and revealed the album art.
Ahead, all the things we all know concerning the project.
When does the album come out?
Swift revealed the discharge date before anything on the MTV VMAs: Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. It can likely be a midnight release like her previous other works, especially given its namesake. Fans identified that Oct, 21, 2022 is coincidentally Kim Kardashian’s birthday. But more telling is what the digitals add as much as: 10 + 2 + 1 = 13, Swift’s beloved and customary Easter egg number and the variety of tracks on Midnights.
Is that this album one other re-recording?
No, Swift’s Oct. 21 album might be a recent original work. Through the Midnights announcement, Swift didn’t address when she would release her re-recordings of 1989 and Popularity.
What songs are on the album? Which might be singles?
Swift hasn’t shared a track list yet, only that the album will feature a complete of 13 recent songs. During her midnight album announcement, she gave slightly detail about what they’ll be about: “Midnights, the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life, might be out October 21. Meet me at midnight.” She has not announced her first single yet.
What’s the album about? Are the songs based on Swift’s life?
When Swift announced the project, she explained the premise and theme for her work. She wrote:
We lie awake in love and in fear, in turmoil and in tears. We stare at partitions and drink until they speak back. We twist in our self-made ages and pray that we aren’t—right this minute—about to make some fateful life-altering mistake.
It is a collection of music written in the midst of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams. The floors we pace and the demons we face. For all of us who’ve tossed and turned and decided to maintain the lanterns lit and search around—hoping that just perhaps, when the clock strikes twelve … we’ll meet ourselves.
Midnights, the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life, might be out October 21. Meet me at midnight.
Will Swift go on tour for this album?
Swift hasn’t announced any tour dates yet. Her last announcement regarding touring was in February 2021, referencing her canceled Lover Fest tour dates and explaining why she had no plans to reschedule them. She wrote then:
I like coming on here to inform you excellent news, or to share a recent project with you. It isn’t my favorite thing on the earth to should inform you news I’m sad about. I’m so sorry, but I cannot reschedule the shows that we have postponed. Although refunds have been available since we first postponed the Lover Fest shows, lots of you hung onto your tickets and I too hung onto the the concept that we could reschedule.
That is an unprecedented pandemic that has modified everyone’s plans and nobody knows what the touring landscape goes to appear like within the near future. I’m so disillusioned that I won’t give you the option to see you in person as soon as I desired to. I miss you terribly and may’t wait ’til we will all safely be at shows together again. – Taylor Swift
Are pre-orders available? What about merchandise?
You wouldn’t expect Taylor Swift to be caught unprepared, would you? In fact pre-orders can be found—and there’s merch! Fans should purchase Midnights in vinyl, CD, or cassette, along with the usual digital version. Each the vinyl and CD sets include unique artwork/photography and a collectible booklet. There’s no answer to the folklore cardigan available on TaylorSwift.com just yet…but we’ll make sure to let as soon as one drops.
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring Latest York City.
Lauren Puckett-Pope is an associate editor at ELLE, where she covers news and culture.
