Taylor Swift Reflects On ‘Reputation,’ Talks “ME!” on Apple Music’s Beats 1

Mike Wass | May 1, 2019 2:59 pm
Taylor Swift & Brendon Urie's 'ME!'
Taylor joins forces with Brendon Urie for a feel-good bop called 'ME!'

With “ME!” riding high on iTunes, Spotify and pop radio, Taylor Swift’s new single is all-but guaranteed to be a chart-topper. (It just might have to wait a week or two for “Old Town Road” to cool off). In the meantime, the pop star is in full promo mode. She spoke to Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s Beats 1 ahead of the song’s live debut on tonight’s Billboard Music Awards. The 29-year-old began by explaining the return to a more organic, feel-good pop sound on “ME!”

“I mean the aesthetic for the music I make is usually a reflection of how I feel as a person,” Taylor explained. “During the Reputation Stadium Tour… my life felt different. It felt like there was a different tone.” The superstar simply felt better about things in general. “I really do credit the fans for the complete resurgence of exuberance and excitement towards music and making new music… I’m ready to kind of do it a little bit more like I used to. I feel more comfortable.”

That’s a big shift from the unexpectedly dark Reputation era. “I was very defiantly putting up a defense mechanism,” she admits. “It was like reflecting on the persona you had felt had been crafted and constructed for you. And that was the first time I’d ever done that with an album. The album kind of had two different sides to it. You had very weaponized songs that were very much antsy. And then you had the real story of the album, which was basically about love and real love and real friendship.”

Oh, and if you thought you spotted cryptic clues in the “ME!” video, you’re 100 percent correct. Taylor says there are hints about the title of her new album and next single in the spectacular visual. Watch the full interview below.

Have you guessed the title of Taylor’s new album? Let us know below, or by hitting us up on Facebook and Twitter!

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