The fans of Taylor Swift are the fiercest loyalists of the music industry. This family-like fan base is rapidly growing due to the unique relationship Swift has with her fans. She constantly works to connect with them through exclusive meetups and cryptic messages. 

Before an album is released, Swift invites fans to her house to listen to the album in an original concept she titles the, “Secret Sessions.” Fans are personally selected by Swift because of their support on various social media platforms such as Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter. This means so much more to fans than a meet and greet or a backstage pass that many other artists offer. 

The fact that fans are invited in Swift’s home makes the experience twice as intimate. These invitations are not received through paying an exorbitant amount of money, but simply by the love and support shown. Swift appreciates her fans on the highest level, and considers them her family. The secrecy of these sessions prove that the events are not held for publicity purposes. Swift is placing immense trust in her fans to refrain from leaking the never-heard-before music. 

Her first Secret Sessions were held weeks before the release of her award-winning album, “1989.” According to Secret Sessions – Taylor Swift Switzerland, 89 Swifties attended each of the five events. About 500 total fans attended the five “Reputation” Secret Sessions. The sessions for “Lover” were even more special as there were only two of them. Swift explains the story behind each of her songs at these exclusive sessions.

During the session, Swift bakes for her fans and gives them many pieces of free merchandise. Secret sessions are genuine interactions between an artist and a fan that elevate the relationship to a bond more like friendship. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Swift was not able to hold Secret Sessions for her two most recent albums, “Folklore” and “Evermore.” To make up for this lack of connection, Swift took to social media. She dropped clues, also known as “easter eggs,” throughout her social media to hint at the releases of these new surprise albums. 

On April 27, 2020, Swift tweeted a photo of herself with the caption, “Not a lot going on at the moment.” This phrase is made up of eight words, hinting at the creation of her eighth studio album. Additionally, the date of the tweet, 4/27 backwards is the release date of “Folklore,” 7/24. The digits that make up this date even add up to Swift’s lucky number 13.

The use of easter eggs continued in anticipation of Swift’s ninth studio album, “Evermore.” The caption of an Instagram post read, “Not a lot going on at the moment.” This is the same phrase that hinted at the release of “Folklore.” This picture also contained a hint to the title of “Evermore’s” lead single, “Willow.” A framed photo of a willow tree is hanging on the wall in the background. 

In a tweet shared on Dec. 10, 2020, Swift responded to her inclusion in Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Albums of 2020 list with another easter egg and said, “throws self to the base of a willow tree by a reflection pool at midnight.” Once again, this teased at her unreleased song, “Willow.” 

A hint to a different song off of “Evermore,” “‘Tis the damn season,” took the form of an Instagram story. It read: “This outfit really screams ‘TIS THE DAMN SEASON.” The interactive easter eggs keep fans and Swift close, even when they are far apart. The fact that fans are always on the lookout for them ensures that Swift and her music are always on the back of their minds.

Swift’s creative ways to stay connected with her fans are not a new development; she has been hiding secret messages in her CD booklets since her debut album, “Taylor Swift,” until her fifth studio album, “1989.” Certain letters of the lyrics of each song are capitalized, revealing a word or phrase about the song. Heartbreak country song “Picture to Burn” from “Taylor Swift” gives a humorous piece of advice and said, “Date nice boys.” “Enchanted” from Swift’s third studio album “Speak Now” reveals the subject of the love song with the decoded message of “Adam”. 

Although these CD booklet messages were put on hold for “Reputation,” “Lover,” “Folklore” and “Evermore”, they made a nostalgic comeback for the announcement of “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” on Feb. 11, 2021. The note to her followers that was posted on her Instagram featured a code similar to ones from the days of the CD booklet messages. Post-deciphering fans discovered the release date of the album, April 9, 2021. This return to old ways was incredibly special due to the fact that fans decoded the same type of messages when “Fearless” was first released.

Through the many methods of maintaining an artist-fan bond, it is no surprise that Swift’s fan base is so large and dedicated. I often wonder, how can you not like Taylor Swift?