Pittsburgh Swifties excited for 'The Tortured Poets Department' album release

Katlyn Lenz-Zanis has been a Swiftie since the very beginning — when Taylor Swift released her debut country-inspired album.

“Her music isn’t just music,” she said. “It’s absolute art, it’s poetry, it’s beautiful … something for everyone to enjoy.”

Now, Swift has risen to superstardom. With her 11th studio album titled “The Tortured Poets Department” just hours away from release, Pittsburgh Swifties shared their plans for listening to the 17 new tunes.

Lenz-Zanis, 32, of Burgettstown, will be staying at home to listen. She has work as a nanny early Friday morning.

“As I am an elder millennial, I won’t really be going out to any of the listening parties because I don’t have the stamina to stay out all night,” she said.

Instead, she will opt for online listening parties. Lenz-Zanis has plans to participate in Facebook chats with other Swifties who will discuss the songs.

“I kinda am more of a homebody, but I would like one day to definitely participate in one of the (in-person) listening parties for sure,” Lenz-Zanis said.

Leaks of the new album?

The 17-track album drops at midnight. However, Swifites have been in an uproar, as there’s been an alleged online album leak.

Songs and lyrics that social media users are claiming are from the new album have been shared online. Some people have claimed they came from a Google Drive link containing the entire album, BBC News reported.

Others have speculated that the leaked tracks are fake and have been generated by artificial intelligence, according to BBC News. Some of the AI tracks shared online turned out to be older, lesser-known Swift songs.

Fans have taken to the social media platform X to defend Swift’s artistry, saying they refuse to listen to any of the alleged leaked tracks.

Lenz-Zanis said she’s most excited about Swift’s collaboration with singer Post Malone for the tune “Fortnight” — which was announced as one of the album’s singles at 2 p.m. on Swift’s website.

The first single from The Tortured Poets Department is…………. Fortnight featuring @postmalone ???? I’ve been such a huge fan of Post because of the writer he is, his musical experimentation and those melodies he creates that just stick in your head forever. I got to witness that… pic.twitter.com/b6cqrHkbE1

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) April 18, 2024

“It’s not a typical collab you would think of,” Lenz-Zanis said. “I have a feeling it’s going to be an absolute banger.”

As for the album, she speculates it will shed light on Swift’s relationship and subsequent breakup with actor Joe Alwyn.

“I am expecting her to tell us a story of her relationship with Joe,” Lenz-Zanis said. “I have a feeling that this is going to be a really difficult album to listen to.”

Though she’s been a fan of Swift’s since her debut album, she said she really became a Swiftie during the Reputation era.

“That album really just changed my life,” Lenz-Zanis said. “I don’t think I’ll ever stop … (Swift is) somebody everybody can look up to.”

‘I admire her so much’

Jacki Smathers and her two daughters attended their first Swift concert in Pittsburgh during the Fearless tour in 2011.

“And we haven’t missed one since,” said Smathers, 55, of Mars.

She owns the Sing Sing Sing performance-based music school in Wexford and Bakerstown, and a lot of the programs are based on Swift and her music. The studio doubles as an event venue, and Thursday night, Smathers will host a listening party for “The Tortured Poets Department.”

The festivities will begin at 10:30 p.m. with general Swift karaoke and trivia, and the new album will be played at midnight. All ages are invited, Smathers said, but kids under 18 should have an adult with them. Usually, moms and daughters attend.

“I admire her music so much — I wanted to celebrate it in fun ways,” Smathers said. “I just feel like the progression of her songwriting has been amazing to watch.”

She said she believes the new album is going to be very lyrically-driven based on the promos and clues.

For Britain Metz, Swift is one of the greatest songwriters of her time.

“New Taylor music is always an amazing feeling — I’m just excited to hear the new sound,” said Metz, 37, of South Park. “I think she’s an absolute poet.”

Since she will be working until midnight, she has plans to carry a bag of handmade friendship bracelets to Target to hand out to fellow Swifties when she goes to buy the exclusive edition of the new album tomorrow.

“I carry around a bag of bracelets for Swifties I see in the wild anyway,” Metz said.

She’s done it for previous releases, too. Metz said she will most likely be at the West Mifflin and South Hills Village Mall Target locations.

“I just left bracelets for everybody,” Metz said. “It’s just a little bonding moment with strangers.”

Bolana Schofield will be heading out of the house for “The Tortured Poets Department” release night — and to the Bottlerocket Social Hall bar on Arlington Avenue in Pittsburgh.

Though she’s been a Swiftie since her country days, Schofield, 27, of Youngwood, has never been to an in-person release party, so she’s looking forward to the experience.

She will attend with her roommate and husband.

“Her lyrics are always just so good,” Schofield said. “They really speak to me — (like) she pulled it right out of my diary.”