Taylor Swift surprise-released Folklore, the album containing “august,” on July 24, 2020. The release arrived with less than a day of advance notice, making it one of the most unexpected major album launches of the pandemic era.
Swift developed Folklore during quarantine, working remotely with producers Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff. She recorded vocals in her Los Angeles home studio, while collaborators worked from locations including New York City and the Hudson Valley. The album’s fictional characters and muted sound distinguished it from much of her earlier work.
The date is sometimes confused with August 3, the release date of “Exile” as a single, or July 27, the release date of “Cardigan.” “August” itself was not released as one of Folklore’s initial official singles, but its late-summer imagery helped it become a recurring seasonal favorite.