Lecture Notes: Conversation with Taylor Swift on "Midnights" Album

Introduction

• Taylor Swift is greeted with excitement by the host and audience.
• Discussion focuses on her new album "Midnights".

Achievements of "Midnights"

• Sales Records:
  • Became the top-selling album of the year within one day.
  • Broke Spotify's record for most streams in a day.
  • Holds the top 10 songs on Apple Music and Spotify.
  • On track to sell over one million copies in its first week.
• Critical Acclaim:
  • Received a five-star review from Rolling Stone and called an instant classic.

Concept and Creation of the Album

• Autobiographical Nature:
  • Swift described the album as her first directly autobiographical work in a while.
  • Contrasts with her previous works which were more about storytelling and mythology.
• Creative Process:
  • Discusses the unpredictable and mysterious nature of songwriting.
  • Mentions her productive period over the last six or seven years, constantly making things.
  • Using her phone to record ideas immediately when they come.

Themes and Stories in the Album

• 13 Stories:
  • Inspired by 13 sleepless nights throughout her life.
  • Different methods of capturing her creative thoughts, from phone recordings to jotting down ideas.
• Fan Interaction:
  • Fans tease her for her meticulous planning.
  • Embraces the fun connection she has with her fans.
• Bingo Cage Track Announcements:
  • Unveiled track names using a vintage Bingo cage on TikTok.

Collaborations

• Artists Involved:
  • Zoe Kravitz and Lana Del Rey feature in the album.
  • Dylan O'Brien played drums on one of the tracks.
• Friendship and Collaborative Joy:
  • Emphasizes the importance of having fun and working with friends.

Album's Dual Nature

• Dark Themes:
  • While the album has dark themes, the process of creating it was joyous.
  • Believes in expressing pain and grief through art while having a joyful creation process.
• Songwriting as Therapy:
  • Writing songs helps address and expunge negative emotions, likened to sucking the poison out of a snakebite.

Filmmaking and Directing

• Short Film "All Too Well":
  • Won three VMAs including Video of the Year.
• Directing Future Music Videos:
  • Finds joy in writing and directing her own concepts.
• Upcoming Videos:
  • "Anti-Hero" video praised for its creativity and humor.
  • Hint of a new video for the song "Bejeweled" releasing soon.
  • Teased a fairy-tale-inspired video with friends like the Haim sisters and Laura Dern.
• Role of Easter Eggs:
  • "Bejeweled" video contains a "psychotic amount" of Easter eggs.

Anecdotes & Fun Facts

• Dr. Taylor Swift:
  • Received an honorary doctorate from NYU.
• Naming Cat Breeds:
  • Swift showcases her knowledge by naming multiple cat breeds in 30 seconds.
• Pizza Party Casting:
  • Recalls meeting Mike Birbiglia at a party, leading to casting him in "Anti-Hero".
• Fun with Film Cameras:
  • Shares funny behind-the-scenes moments with a vintage camera at a party.
  • Shows an embarrassing selfie taken with the camera.