Jack Antonoff developed the original instrumental before Taylor Swift wrote the lyrics to “august.”
Antonoff first created the instrumental and sent it to Swift, who wrote the lyrics in response to the music. The process produced a song that feels immediate and atmospheric, with a hazy arrangement supporting a fictional narrative about an undefined summer relationship.
Antonoff’s contribution went beyond the initial instrumental. He co-wrote the song with Swift, co-produced it, and played drums, percussion, guitars, bass, keyboards, and programming. His layered approach helped create the track’s blend of dream pop, guitar pop, and soft rock.
Aaron Dessner is sometimes named because he was a major Folklore producer, but he did not develop the “august” instrumental. Bobby Hawk contributed strings, and Jonathan Low handled recording or mixing duties. Those are distinct credits from creating the original musical foundation.