Originally posted by Florencia

Thanks for telling us about your experience, ksmith!

I just wanna know something. Are Style and that sassy song everybody talks about as good as hype?

Originally posted by Finny

Amazing story ksmith

yes @ no EDM
and are there any songs with violins, cellos, etc?

Originally posted by ksmith

There was really no EDM. I heard people say influences and uh, I don't know...maybe?? But like nothing like legit EDM, I promise. It's more just drum heavy pop. From what I remember no violins or cellos but I could be wrong!

Originally posted by Finny

I feel like the sassy media song is gonna be her talk-singing like WANEGBT'S verses and bridge. & heavy in sarcasm.

Originally posted by Finny

SO ready for these drums.
& do you know if she found you via twitter?

Originally posted by ksmith

Here is my novel for all of you fine people. It's the entire story of the whole night but the album stuff is about halfway through in case you don't wanna read it all. I just gave my opinions on it. Can't say too much else!

So it all started on Thursday night at about 8:30 pm when I got a call. It was a RI area code so I figured it was someone from class or something. I never answer calls if I don’t know the number, I just don’t do it. But something told me to pick this one up. I did and it was someone from taylorswift.com inviting me to a secret event in the Providence, RI area. I had to write down a bunch of information on a piece of paper and I literally could not believe what was happening. They kept saying Providence and how we were going to be shuttled to a second location from the parking lot so I figured we would be meeting in Providence. The parking lot they gave us was not even close to Providence and in fact about 30 seconds away from Taylor’s house so I thought something was wrong and I panicked for like an hour thinking I got the wrong address. I even called the number back and I knew I wasn’t supposed to but like I was so nervous and they didn’t answer and I was like calm it down there ain’t no way you got the wrong info. Chill. And so I did. I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone or say anything so I had to keep it in and I couldn’t even believe it. I couldn’t concentrate on anything or think about anything else for the longest time.

Fast forward to Saturday. I could not even believe what was happening but it just didn’t feel real. Like I would say it to myself and I was like nah no way nope. They said to get there no earlier than 4 and no later than 4:30 pm. I got there at 4:01 thinking I was gonna be so early and the entire parking lot was basically filled. Then they said they were coming car by car to get everyone. This process took insanely long but whatever I was about to meet Taylor Swift I don’t care how long it takes. I sat in my car listening to her music for two hours until at about 6 o’clock I was finally able to go and check in. We were some of the last people to go in. Other people had been in the house for over an hour I’d say. So we go through all the security stuff, get in a van, and drive the 15-second drive up the street. The most surreal feeling is actually pulling into that driveway and approaching the house. We went in through the garage, did more security and went up the back stairs. And into one of the nicest, most beautiful, immaculate houses I’ve ever seen. Massive windows everywhere with outrageous ocean views and it smelled good and there were candles everywhere and it was decorated so nicely and it was all really vintagey and old-timey feeling. I couldn’t believe I was in that house. I ate a little bit but soon after we all filed into the living room to sit down. I was one of the last ones in and they made me squeeze into this tight little space in the middle of the floor and I’m a big kid and it was crazy but I got in there and I was hella uncomfortable but I DON’T CARE. And then after a few minutes we just heard “Hi guys!!” from behind us and everyone started screaming and I was just grinning from ear to ear and Taylor is so crazy beautiful its outrageous.

She sat down in a chair and said her hellos and then started introducing the first song. She went song by song and introduced them each time talking about the backstory behind that and her thoughts and feelings and who she worked with and it was awesome to get this kind of insight. She lipped out every single lyric and acted out everything and did her typical Taylor hand movements which are amazing and she would make eye contact with everyone and it was crazy. Every so often she would just see someone she recognized from Instagram and get so excited and say something personal about them, it was so nice to see. Then we took an intermission and she came out with a tray of rice krispy treats and cookies and handed them out and I took a rice krispy treat and it was very delicious. I had to use the bathroom and I was waiting in line, I noticed that she had the original lyrics to WANEGBT framed on the wall which was really cool. Just two white pieces of paper, written in pencil. It was crazy to see that.

As the intermission was about to be over, I knew I was pretty uncomfortable where I was sitting last time just kind of wedged in the middle of everyone so I thought I’d get a seat near the back this time. I was right next to this big chair, waiting for her to come back out and play the rest of the album. She walked into the room with Olivia who was really cute and she was like “surprise, surprise” and sat down in the huge chair that I was literally right up against and said for the second half she was going to sit on this side of the room. So I literally turned around and was about an inch away just sitting right in front of her, couldn’t have been closer really. Olivia was being passed around and she was at the girl right next to me and I was going to pet her but then she jumped off into Taylor’s lap and out of the room and they put her away and she never came back so I never got to pet her haha. She played the second half of the album and at one point she sang a few lyrics directly to me and was pointing down at me as if she was singing the lines to me and I just pointed back at her and internally I was just like holy ****. She played one of the voice memos which was awesome to hear. She sounded amazing and it was actually really funny, you guys will understand when you hear it. She went through her phone to find the actual voice memo and it was not from her “music” app or anything like that—so this was the legit voice memo and she sounded SO damn good. So if anyone ever tries to be like “ohhhh dat was edited” nope, no, no. It was legit straight from the voice memos on her phone.

As far as the album goes, it’s really pop and it’s not afraid to be pop and that’s what is so good about it. She took a lot of chances and went in a lot of different directions in my opinion—she stayed in the same realm this time and it truly was sonically cohesive but there’s something different and exciting about all of the songs too. The production is top notch, she sounds great and despite being catchy pop songs, the lyrics really were good. I don’t feel as though she had to sacrifice one for the other. No, it may not be as lyrically dense as something like Speak Now was but it’s Taylor, the lyrical content is there. It’s definitely a feel good album that you’ll be able to bop along to. There are fun, catchy songs. There are wistful love songs. There are some really sassy songs. There are some emotional songs. It’s a wide array of things. And I need to hear it again because a lot of it is starting to escape me. There’s some hooks that are stuck in my head. I honestly didn’t feel like there was much filler on it either. I felt like every song was really, really strong which was something I didn’t think about Red on first listen and afterwards. I truly think you will all love it and take something away. It’s very different for Taylor but it is so fitting and it really makes sense as the next direction. It’s bold and exciting and fun and catchy and unapologetic, she goes there. I don’t want to hype it up and say THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT’S EVER BEEN CREATED EVER EVERYTHINGS SHES EVER DONE BEFORE THIS IS **** cause that’s not true, I’ve only heard it once. But I can rationally say it’s very strong and something I can see myself listening to over and over and over again. I was not even remotely disappointed, even for a second. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.
Afterwards we all got to hang out again and wait. We were some of the last ones in so we were some of the last ones out, we had over two hours to kill essentially. I sat on the big comfy couches. She had books on sea glass and knot tying and the history of Watch Hill on her table, it was awesome. I touched some of the piano keys cause I was like I need to do this. Her parents came around and talked to everyone and were super friendly and nice and great and they took us out on the balcony which overlooked the ocean and a lighthouse and her pool and a massive in ground hot tub that changed colors, it was amazing. Pretty soon it was time to get ready to meet her. I had no idea what to do or say or ANYTHING it was crazy. I just got more and more nervous.

I walked into the room and she did this like twisting, cute motion like a quintessential Taylor move and was like “heyyyyy” and we hugged and it was crazy and then she rubbed my flannel for a second and was like “this is SO soft” and I had no idea what to say so I was just like “it’s LL Bean” and she’s like “really? Okay awesome because I’m always looking for nice shirts to buy my dad and brother for Christmas” and I was like “yup, got it from the catalogue” and then she asked if she could get it online and I was like I’m sure you can and she was like “cause soon I’m gonna be super busy and like for a catalogue...what like I’ll have to send something in or?” and we talked about the damn catalogue for another second and then I thanked her letting me be there and I told her about how much I loved the album and I was like “I have so much I want to say to you and it’s just not happening” or SOMETHING like that and she was like “nah you’re doing great…I mean like the shirt that’s something I’m really gonna do.” And that was nice and then I was like “I just want to tell you that you make me really, really happy” and she smiled really big and was like “aw thank you so much, I’m so happy that I could do that for you” and then I talked a bit about how I’ve been to every Gillette show and how there’s something about rain and how it’s always raining when I see her—it poured for most of the night tonight and she was like “there’s so many people from the rain show here!” And then it came time to take the picture and she asked what I wanted to do and I didn’t know and she was like “well you could hold a grammy” and then she was like “or I mean you look strong like you could hold me” I THINK I DON’T REMEMBER HOW SHE WORDED IT but I was thinking of that pose myself but wasn’t gonna bring it up and then I was like “I can do it” and she was like “I am heavier than I look” and she wasn’t. And then next thing I know she’s in my arms and we take the picture and the whole time I’m just like “I refuse to be the kid who drops Taylor Swift.” But I didn’t. And after that she turned to the lady who took it and was like “I think there was ass in that” and she was like “no don’t worry I cut it off if there is you shouldn’t see it” or whatever and I was like “Whoops that wasn’t my intention!” or something like that and she was like “no I should just wear longer skirts” (which nah she shouldn’t she was looking so good.) And then we hugged again and I said something about how I saw her open for Rascal Flatts and it was crazy to see her now and she was like “wow thank you for coming to the shows” and stuff and then I was on MY WAY AND I LEFT AND IT WAS 12:30 IN THE MORNING AND IT WAS INSANE. And none of it has even registered, it’s still crazy. And then I get home and an hour later she instagrams our picture together and I’m literally in complete disbelief I don’t even know. AND THAT IS HOW IT WENT. I’m so grateful for the opportunity. I’ve been waiting and trying for six years and tonight my LITERAL and figurative dreams came true.

Originally posted by WonderstruckFR

Woah Ksmith your novel is perfect, I absolutely loved it. Thank you
I'm so jealous but so happy for you, congrats!

Originally posted by ksmith

To be honest I don't know how she found me and I never asked but I don't think it was because of social media. She did say that sometimes she'd like and follow people but other times she'd look at a profile, choose someone and pass them along without interacting with them. However, she also said there was some "contest winners" and stuff which many people, including myself, took to mean those who entered the livestream and didn't make it. I personally think that's how I was picked. Plus I got a phone call and never contacted by email or anything like that--so they had my info. But who knows! Either way it happened and I'm so happy about it.