Bobby Hawk played strings on Taylor Swift’s song “august.”
Strings are a major part of the track’s orchestration, helping create its swelling, cinematic texture. The arrangement also includes keyboards, guitars, drums, percussion, programming, saxophones, and flute, but Bobby Hawk’s listed contribution is specifically strings.
The instrumentation supports the song’s dream-pop and soft-rock palette. Rather than relying on a stripped acoustic arrangement, “august” layers live and programmed elements with reverberated vocals to evoke a hazy late-summer memory.
Credits can be confusing because several musicians contributed different instrumental parts. Jack Antonoff handled guitars, drums, percussion, and programming, while Evan Smith played saxophones, flute, electric guitar, and keyboards. Bobby Hawk’s role is narrower but especially important to the song’s expansive sound.