Fans of pop megastar Taylor Swift are about to get a new shrine - and it's sticking to the side of Grimey's New & Preloved Music in East Nashville. The famed local record store is making waves with the addition of a spanking new mural dedicated to Swift's 11th studio album, "The Tortured Poets Department," set to hit the shelves Friday. Completed on Wednesday by illustrator Alexandria Hall, the mural has become the latest hot spot for Swifties, just in time for the album drop.
According to a statement obtained by NewsChannel5, this piece of art is not just a fixture for selfies but a part of a larger campaign. Major cities have been spotting these murals, each with a QR code linked to a YouTube short that's been teasing fans with a single-letter clue about the album's first single. Swift fanatics played detective and, using the final hint from a Montreal mural, deciphered that the upcoming single is "Fortnight," featuring none other than Post Malone.
Grimey's has a special place in its heart for Swift, who was the 2022 Record Store Day ambassador. The store even donned an "Eras"-inspired mural during that time. With deep ties to Nashville, Swift's concern for the local music spot was clear as she stepped in to support Grimey's during the turbulent times of the pandemic. Co-owner Doyle Davis, in an interview with The National Desk, shared the story of Swift's kind-hearted intervention which included covering three months of the store's healthcare plan and financial aid for staff.
Not just a fundraising face, Swift's new album rollout stays authentic to the vinyl-loving spirit one day before Record Store Day. Doyle Davis, a self-declared admirer of the artist and husband to a Swiftie, revealed that Grimey's is stocking up for a big demand on Friday - open to surprise but not selling out, he assured fans. "We order big with Taylor Swift," said Davis, clearly enthused about the incoming rush of music lovers.
Meanwhile, in anticipation of Record Store Day's chosen ambassador this year, fans of Paramore will get a taste of something unique as well. Nashville stores will release a limited 12" single featuring the band's homage to the Talking Heads and vice-versa. As the countdown to Friday's album release begins, fan excitement is palpable, meaning it's only a matter of time before vinyl copies of "The Manuscript," "The Bolter," "The Albatross," and "The Black Dog" editions start flying off Grimey's shelves.
Swift's influence on both the digital and physical music scene remains unchallenged, with Grimey's owner recognizing her savvy. As The Tennessean reported, Davis lauded Swift's dedication to her tangible music releases, "Taylor's brilliant. She not only streams extraordinarily well, but she is an artist who does not ignore the physical market." Indeed, the vinyl variants of "Tortured Poets" serve as proof of that commitment. Friday at 11 a.m. sharp, Grimey's doors will open, and the Swift saga will continue.
