Taylor Swift has announced a new single, ‘Patient Zero’, amid growing speculation among fans about her next musical release, writes Variety.
The singer revealed that the song will arrive on digital platforms on 25 September. She also opened a 24-hour pre-order for the track through her official website.
Her website is also offering three limited-edition CD versions of the single, including acoustic and piano renditions. The CDs are scheduled to ship on 13 October.
The title had already sparked speculation among Swift’s fans after clues appeared on her social media accounts. Among them was a change in her Instagram bio, where the letter ‘O’ was replaced by the numeral ‘0’ in three places.
The new release has also fuelled theories about Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ era. The logo for the album appears in her online store when customers view details of the three CD editions, while the designs also resemble earlier ‘Showgirl’ releases.
Another clue has centred on the word “encore”, which has appeared through several Easter eggs. Fans have linked it to the possibility of additional music connected to ‘The Life of a Showgirl’, although Swift previously said the album would not receive bonus tracks or a deluxe edition.
Swift’s recent appearance in a pre-recorded ‘Law & Order: SVU’ Emmy sketch also added fuel to the speculation. During the segment, several cryptic phrases led fans to identify the word “encore” through the third letters of the phrases.
Some fans went further and claimed the same clues could be rearranged into a message suggesting that ‘Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version)’ might be released on 10 November. However, it remains unclear whether the hidden message was intentional or simply a coincidence created by fans.
Further clues have emerged on Swift’s website, where fans noticed that a previously covered third sheet of paper had appeared alongside material related to her master recordings and ‘Showgirl’ tracklist.
More details about Swift’s plans could emerge soon. She is expected to feature in the MTV Video Music Awards telecast on Sunday, where she is set to receive the inaugural Artist Director Award, although it has not been confirmed whether she will attend the Los Angeles ceremony in person.
