Taylor Swift releases ‘Lavender Haze’ music video

In the early hours of Friday, Taylor Swift released the highly anticipated music video for ‘Lavender Haze’, the second single of her latest album ‘Midnights.’ The video, which is written and directed by Swift herself, features daring shots of Swift topless in a cloudy lavender-colored pool.

The upbeat pop song is depicted in a surrealism-style video featuring clouds of violet smoke, and showcases intimate shots of Swift alongside transgender model Laith Ashley, who is depicted as her love interest.

The two share scenes in a 1970s psychedelic-inspired bedroom and nightclub. The singer is seen crawling through a maze of lavender, dancing in mist and clouds of smoke, and basking in a cloudy pool of lavender filled with flowers.

The video has been announced a day earlier on the 33-year-old singer’s social media accounts. Swift teased the debut of her music video with a short video clip.

“Meet me at midnight… …for the Lavender Haze music video premiere (!!!!!!!!!!!!!)” The clip featured a scene from the now-out music video of Swift seated on a bed clouded by violet smoke,” she wrote.

‘Lavender Haze’ is the second single from the album but the third music video to debut from her 2022 ‘Midnights’ Album, following the videos for ‘Anti-Hero’ and ‘Bejeweled’ which were released in late 2022. Swift also wrote and directed the previous music videos from this album.

Lavender Haze’s Deeper Meaning

Swift previously released on Instagram that ‘Lavender Haze’ was written about her longtime boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn, explaining that throughout their relationship they’ve “had to dodge weird rumors” and that lavender haze is " a common phrase used in the ‘50s where they would describe being in love..”

Fans have been quick to find subtle references to the couple’s relationship in the music video. At the beginning of the video, Swift looks at a vinyl called ‘Mastermind,’ which is the name of another song from her album. The vinyl cover features the constellation of both her and Alwyn’s zodiac signs.

Swift is known for leaving subtle clues as to what she’s up to next in her music videos. Many fans have speculated that the repeated koi fish visuals in the music video are a hint that Swift will soon release her rerecording of her 2010 “Speak Now” album. Throughout the tour for ‘Speak Now,’ Swift played a blue guitar with red and yellow koi fish printed on it.