Who produced the initial instrumental for Taylor Swift’s “august”?

Jack Antonoff produced the initial instrumental for Taylor Swift’s “august.”

According to the song’s production history, Antonoff built the instrumental first and sent it to Swift. She then wrote the lyrics on the spot, describing the process as intuitive. This sequence helps explain why the song feels like a fully formed atmosphere before its narrative details arrive.

The finished recording credits Swift and Antonoff as producers, with Joe Alwyn also credited as a producer. Alwyn contributed to several Folklore recordings under the pseudonym William Bowery, but the specific account of creating the first instrumental identifies Antonoff.

Aaron Dessner is another major Folklore producer and collaborator, yet he is not listed among the producers of “august.” Confusing Dessner with Antonoff is understandable because both shaped the album’s sound and both appeared with Swift during her 2021 Grammy performance. For this track, however, Antonoff’s role began with the instrumental foundation.