Which genre is most specifically listed for Taylor Swift’s “august”?

Taylor Swift’s “august” is most specifically classified as dream pop.

The song also incorporates guitar pop and soft rock, but dream pop is the first genre listed in its song infobox and is the description most closely associated with its hazy, atmospheric sound. Its production uses reverb-heavy vocals, shimmering guitars, keyboards, strings, and a spacious arrangement.

“august” appeared on Swift’s 2020 album Folklore, a record that moved away from the bright pop sound of some of her earlier releases. Critics often described the album as indie-oriented, although its songs draw from several styles rather than fitting one strict genre.

A common mix-up is calling “august” simply folk because of the album’s title and storytelling. Folklore’s overall mood is folk-inspired, but “august” is specifically identified as a gloomy dream-pop, guitar-pop, and soft-rock ballad.