Taylor Swift‘s seventh studio record, Lover, has finally been released to the world, and with the release has come a whirlwind of buzz surrounding the album’s notable contributors.

As opposed to previous records, Swift only holds sole credit on three of the album’s eighteen tracks. The rest are made up from the likes of Joel Little, Adam Feeney (Frank Dukes), Louis Bell, Cautious Clay, Mark Anthony Spears, and Bleacher’s frontman Jack Antonoff — who shares credit on almost half of the record’s songs.

Although the most eye-catching collaboration comes from the album’s second track, “Cruel Summer.” Annie Clark, better known by her stage name St. Vincent, shares writing credit alongside Swift and Antonoff on the indie-rock-meets-pop melody. With the help of Clark and Antonoff, “Cruel Summer” shines as one of the most stripped-down tracks on the record — where Swift’s melodic riffs and prominent vocals take center stage.

Although the two have been friends for some time now, this is the first time Clark and Swift have officially collaborated. The last time the two were seen together was when Swift brought Clark and fellow rocker Beck on stage during 2015’s Red tour.

Clark has been hard at work in studios recently, having also produced Sleater-Kinney‘s new album, The Center Won’t Hold.

Gear

St. Vincent plays Earthwood Phosphor Bronze Med Light on her acoustic and relies on Ernie Ball Regular Slinky electrics on her signature St. Vincent Music Man.

Listen to “Cruel Summer”

Photos Courtesy of Just Jared

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