Taylor Swift Fans Stunned to Discover Singer’s Secret Songwriting Past
Taylor Swift quietly penned a hit song for another artist under a pseudonym, a revelation that’s sending ripples through her devoted fanbase.
- The singer used the name Nils Sjöberg to co-write Rihanna’s 2016 track, “This Is What You Came For.”
- Swift collaborated with then-boyfriend Calvin Harris on the song.
- Fans recently unearthed the information, sparking discussion about Swift’s songwriting process and potential hidden meanings.
Taylor Swift is known for laying her heart bare in her lyrics, but it turns out the chart-topping singer has a secret life as a songwriter for other artists, operating under a pseudonym. The revelation, surfacing recently, has left many fans absolutely floored.
Why the Secret Identity?
It’s not uncommon for artists to use aliases. Stephen King, for example, famously published novels under the name Richard Bachman when his publisher worried he was releasing too much work. Swedish DJ Avicii was the stage name for Tim Bergling. Sometimes, singers choose to remain anonymous when contributing to other performers’ projects.
Swift, recognized for her deeply personal and critically acclaimed songwriting, has also quietly crafted songs for others. The twist? She did so under the name Nils Sjöberg.
A Collaboration with Calvin Harris
Between 2015 and 2016, Swift was in a relationship with Scottish DJ Calvin Harris. Despite a highly publicized and sometimes acrimonious split, the pair actually collaborated on a major hit. Together, Harris and “Nils Sjöberg” – that is, Swift – co-authored Rihanna’s 2016 smash, “This Is What You Came For.”
Nine years after the song’s release, fans are still discovering this detail. One enthusiast shared their findings on Reddit, noting that Swift chose the name Nils Sjöberg after researching a Swedish poet.
“Taylor used to use a pseudonym, Nils Sjöberg, when she wrote music for other artists. I looked into the real Nils Sjoberg, wondering why she chose him specifically, and as it turns out, he was a poet,” the Reddit user explained.
The post included screenshots from Wikipedia, revealing that Nils Sjöberg was both a Swedish officer and a poet born in 1754. The user also pointed out that the poet’s works translate to themes like ‘The Bard,’ ‘The Atheist,’ ‘The Farmer,’ and ‘Immortality’ – strikingly similar to titles from Swift’s 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department.
“I just find it interesting, given that so far from The Tortured Poets Department, we have ‘The Alchemy,’ ‘The Bolter,’ and ‘The Albatross’,” the Reddit user observed. “I just thought this was an interesting look into what possibly could’ve been part of her inspiration for this album.”
Fan Reactions: Genius or Just a Clever Choice?
The discovery sparked a flurry of reactions. “God she’s a genius,” one commenter declared. Another referenced Swift’s song “Mastermind,” writing, “Truly a Mastermind.”
However, not everyone believes the pseudonym holds deeper meaning. One person countered, “Taylor Swift has been pretty open about why she picked the pseudonym. It’s two of the most popular male Swedish names – the equivalent of John Smith.”
Another user responded, “I’ve observed Taylor often gives a reason she does something, but that’s not necessarily the only reason she does. Also, neither name is in the top 25 names in Sweden.”
