What real-world event shaped the creation of Taylor Swift’s Folklore, including “august”?

The COVID-19 pandemic shaped the creation of Taylor Swift’s Folklore, including “august.”

Swift began developing the album during quarantine in early 2020, when normal touring and entertainment plans were disrupted. The isolation encouraged a more inward and imaginative writing process, and Folklore moved away from the strongly autobiographical approach associated with many of her earlier albums.

Instead, Swift built fictional characters, settings, and story arcs. “august” became part of a connected teenage love triangle involving the characters associated with “cardigan” and “betty.” Its summer setting feels personal and vivid, but the story is presented as invented rather than as a direct account of Swift’s life.

The pandemic context is sometimes reduced to the album’s surprise release, but it also affected the record’s creative environment. Swift and her collaborators worked remotely or under unusual restrictions while constructing the album’s quiet, atmospheric sound.