Joe Alwyn used the pseudonym William Bowery for his credited contributions to Taylor Swift’s Folklore.
Alwyn contributed to several Folklore songs, including “exile,” “betty,” and “my tears ricochet,” under the name William Bowery. Swift later confirmed that Bowery was Alwyn, ending fan speculation about the identity behind the credit.
The pseudonym is often discussed alongside “august” because all three songs belong to Folklore’s interconnected love-triangle concept. However, William Bowery is not the credited co-writer of “august”; that song was written by Swift and Jack Antonoff.
The name combines references associated with New York and London, where Swift and Alwyn had personal and professional connections. The credit became a notable part of Folklore’s behind-the-scenes story.