This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Fainite Auguste. Find her on Instagram at @ceilingdancing. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Taylor Swift has announced her 11th original studio album on top of finishing her previous album re-recordings. Swift let her fans know in her acceptance speech at the 2024 Grammys for her 13th Grammy that the album is set to release on April 19th. Millions of Swifties will stay up all night listening, crying, and dancing to the songs. We’ll show you how to throw the best TS11 release party.
What We know About The Album
The album title is The Tortured Poets Department; there are sixteen tracks on the standard album: Fortnight, The Tortured Poets Department, My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys, Down Bad, So Long London, But Daddy I Love Him, Fresh Out the Slammer, Florida!!! (featuring Florence and the Machine), Guilty as Sin?, Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?, I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can), Loml, I Can Do It with a Broken Heart, The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, The Alchemy, and Clara Bow. There are two bonus tracks so far, The Manuscript and The Bolter. Swift separated these tracks into four different sections; sides A, B, C, and D.
The Album Cover
The album cover is not quite black and white like Reputation, but has a hint of sepia tone to it. In the standard cover Swift lays on what I presume is a bed and white pillows surround her. She’s in loungewear, giving a more personal vibe. The other two promotional photos are close up portraits of Swift; the first with the words “I love you, it’s ruining my life my life.” While the other has, “you don’t get to tell me about sad,” on it. I presume these are lyrics that will appear on in the album.
When Swift posted the initial Instagram post the second slide included these words: “And so I enter into evidence my tarnished coat of arms, my muses, acquired like bruises my talismans and charms. The tick, tick, tick of love bombs. My veins of pitch black ink. All’s fair in love and poetry… sincerely, the chairman of The Tortured Poets Department.” So what does this statement mean? The tracks are the “evidence” that Swift is giving to her audience. Swift is also letting us know that she is the chairman; she’s the tortured poet.
Album Predictions
We can’t avoid addressing the elephant in the room forever. The album is bound to discuss Swift’s breakup with actor Joe Alwyn. The two were together for a little over 5 years and Swift dedicated Reputation and Lover to him. The relationship was an important aspect of her life and it will be interesting to see how reflects on that time in her life. Read more predictions here.
The TS11 Release Party Aesthetic
If you decide to throw a Tortured Poets Department party with your friends you will need to lean into the aesthetic. Think of the dark academia aesthetic; the color schemes are black, white, gray, and brown. Warm yellow lighting is your friend, If you own any lamps or candles this is their time to shine.
Rip some pages out of any book, then lay them out on your kitchen table. Printing pages of books is always an option as well. Pin or Tape these pages onto the wall or ceiling if you can reach it.
The Snacks
Every party needs some food. Coffee and tea are great options drink options for your TS11 release party. Guests can make the drinks their own, like adding sugar or milk. The sugar will give the much needed energy as it will take a couple of hours to listen to the album. As for food; chocolate chip cookies are a must. Store bought will work just fine but I recommend baking; if there is time. If chocolate chip cookies aren’t enough for your guests scones are always a good backup.
The Activities
While everyone patiently waits for The Tortured Poets Department to be released, guests should take a shot at writing poetry. Guests can either write starting with a blank page or create blackout poetry from book pages. And when the clock strikes midnight everyone can sit around and listen to the album for the first time.
Will you be streaming The Tortured Poets Department? Are you throwing a TS11 release party? Let us know!
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