Joe Alwyn used the pseudonym William Bowery for his songwriting credits on Taylor Swift’s Folklore album.
Alwyn contributed to several Folklore songs, including “exile,” “betty,” and “my tears ricochet,” under the name William Bowery. Swift explained the identity after the album’s release, saying Alwyn helped write melodies and lyrics while they worked together during lockdown. The pseudonym combines references associated with New York City and London, although Swift has not treated it as a separate performing persona.
William Bowery is often confused with “Nils Sjöberg,” a pseudonym Swift previously used for a songwriting credit on Calvin Harris’s “This Is What You Came For.” “Jack Leopards” was another Swift-related pseudonym used for a one-off cover project. The Bowery name belongs specifically to Alwyn’s Folklore and Evermore-era credits.