Credit: Taylor Swift via Twitter

The album was announced this morning and launches tonight.

It’s been about a year since the release of Taylor Swift’s seventh album, “Lover.” If she had a new album in the works at the time, she wasn’t telling anyone, but apparently, due to current circumstances, she’s had a lot of time to be creative and write music. As she revealed in a surprise announcement this morning, she’s actually got a brand new album finished and ready to go, and it’s launching tonight at midnight EST.

The eighth album, titled “Folklore,” features new tracks co-written by several of Swift’s friends and collaborators, including The National’s Aaron Dessner, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, and a regular collaborator of Swift’s, Jack Antonoff.

According to a statement Dessner posted on his Twitter, Swift approached him about writing new songs back in April, and once they got started, the creativity just kept flowing. “I’ve rarely been so inspired by someone and it’s still hard to believe this happened,” he said.

Surprise 🤗 Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my 8th studio album, folklore; an entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into. Pre-order at https://t.co/zSHpnhUlLb pic.twitter.com/4ZVGy4l23b

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 23, 2020

Writing on her Instagram, Swift explained her thought process on the surprise release. “Before this year I probably would’ve overthought when to release this music at the ‘perfect’ time, but the times we’re living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed. My gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world. That’s the side of uncertainty I can get on board with.”

Some fans have a sneaking suspicion that the release is at least partially motivated by Swift’s desire to one up her regular rival Kanye West, whose new record “Donda: With Child” is releasing tomorrow. Whether it’s true or not, I don’t think any of us will say no to some new music.