Taylor Swift’s upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, may veer toward synth-driven arrangements and pop beats with producers Max Martin and Shellback both involved.Scott A Garfitt/The Canadian Press
That banshee screech you heard early Tuesday morning? That’s the unmistakable sound of Swifties across the globe reacting to an announcement from Taylor Swift.
At 12:12 a.m. (because of course), Swift revealed that her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, will be released some time in the next few months.
The decree appeared on the singer-songwriter’s website and was made by Swift herself in a series of promotional videos for New Heights, the podcast starring brothers Jason and Travis Kelce (the latter of whom has been in a public relationship with Swift since 2023).
While Swift has not yet announced an official release date for The Life of a Showgirl, her website states that preorders of the album will ship before Oct. 13.
Here’s what we know about the album so far.
Swift’s 12th era will capture the colour(s) of copper
Swift is expected to share The Life of a Showgirl’s cover art this week, but as of now, fans have only been shown the album’s colour scheme: sparkly burnt orange with accents of mint green and olive-tinged brown, a.k.a. the various shades of oxidation that occur over a penny’s lifetime.
It’s far from the first time copper (in all its hues) has made an appearance in the singer’s discography. On her self-titled 2006 debut, Swift sang about a boy who “leaves you out like a penny in the rain,” while on 2020’s folklore she described “tossing pennies in a pool.” On 2022’s Midnights she gloated: “My pennies made your crown.”
Will The Life of a Showgirl signal a career shift for Swift, from musician to numismatist? Doubtful. But this week’s marketing for the album hints at an era that captures the ever-changing colours of the Statue of Liberty.
Tight-end Kelce will be involved in the album’s rollout
Swift’s relationship with Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, is by far her most public in years. Since they began dating in 2023, the two have been spotted at tourist hot spots around the world. Swift even brought Kelce onstage during the London leg of her wildly successful Eras Tour.
So far, Swift has heavily involved Kelce in the promotion for The Life of a Showgirl – a major pivot for the star, who during previous relationships was tight-lipped about the partners who inspired albums, songs and music videos.
While Taylor Swift has not yet announced an official release date for The Life of a Showgirl, her website states that preorders of the album will ship before Oct. 13.TAYLORSWIFT.COM/Reuters
Kelce and his brother will welcome Swift onto their podcast on Wednesday night, and Kelce, whose 13th season in the NFL begins in September, discussed his relationship Swift in a cover story for GQ this week, describing himself as a “plus one” to her career in the same way she exists as a plus one to his.
“I hadn’t experienced somebody in the same shoes as me, having a partner who understands the scrutiny, understands the ups and downs of being in front of millions,” he said. “That was very relatable, seeing how exhausted she would get after shows. She may not think of herself as an athlete. She will never tell anyone that she is an athlete. But I’ve seen what she goes through. I’ve seen the amount of work that she puts on her body, and it’s mind-blowing.”
It’s safe to guess that at least one or two tracks on The Life of a Showgirl will reference Swift’s relationship with Kelce, following in the footsteps of her last album, which included two bops apparently about the football player: So High School and The Alchemy.
Cloudy with a chance of synth-pop
On Tuesday morning, Spotify unveiled a series of billboards around the world advertising a Swift-approved, 22-track playlist of songs from previous albums.
To the average listener, that may not mean much. But Swifties have become accustomed to finding Easter eggs in everything the singer does, from the clothes she wears to the dates she chooses for album releases. (When in doubt, just look for a 13, which Swift has long said is her lucky number.)
The playlist largely features songs co-created with producers Max Martin and Shellback, suggesting The Life of a Showgirl is likely to veer toward synth-driven arrangements and pop beats.
Some diehard Swifties have mused that the 22 tracks on the playlist may point toward a double album in the vein of 2024’s The Tortured Poets Department. (Perhaps this hypothetical B-side could be titled The Death of a Showgirl?)
That’s just some fun speculation. But one thing remains true: As usual, this is Taylor’s world, and we’re all just living in it.
