Swifties, gather round! To celebrate this Friday’s release of Taylor Swift’s eleventh studio album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ Spotify has curated a unique 3-day library installation Los Angeles. Starting April 16 and running through April 18, The Grove has transformed into a library installation pop-up, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., for the next three days leading up to the Friday release.
Titled ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ after Swift’s upcoming album, this Spotify library installation offers a unique experience for fans, featuring a curated selection of poetry, books and visual surprises. This dynamic installation, located directly across from Barnes & Noble at The Grove, will change and add new elements daily.
The first day of the 3-day library installation saw fans waiting between 2.5 to 4 hours to view the pop-up. Once an attendee makes it to the front of the line, attendees can expect Spotify staff to hand them a card to fill out, asking them which album track they were most excited about, to place in one of the library’s themed boxes. Participants will then receive both physical and digital gifts at the end of their visit, including a photo and a bookmark featuring the album’s tracklist.
The library’s aesthetic includes a dark-toned bookcase, adorned with a typewriter, gold birdcages, and globes marked with mysterious pins on Florida, a nod to a new track title of her latest album. It’s a treasure trove of easter eggs for the dedicated Swiftie, hence the long lines of fans, and we look forward to what the next two days might bring.
With sixteen tracks, including collaborations with Post Malone and Florence and the Machine, the new album explores the five stages of grief. Swift has called it her “lifeline” album. It feels like an understatement to say that fans are buzzing with anticipation, especially after the first day of the exhibit revealed potential new lyrics: “Even statues crumble. If they’re made to wait.”
The Grove is no stranger to hosting Taylor Swift fans. The last major Swift event at our beloved, open mall was the premiere of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour movie on October 11, 2023, where Swift surprised attendees at the AMC theater. Prior to that, Swift performed her sold-out, six-night stint at L.A.’s Sofi Stadium last August during her Eras Tour.
Entry to the Spotify event at The Grove is on a first-come, first-served basis, with no early access or guaranteed entry. Fans are advised to arrive during The Grove’s regular hours. Good luck, as this event is drawing crowds that feel similar to trying to snag Eras tickets!
‘The Tortured Poets Department’ Library Pop-Up Details
📍 The Grove, 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036
📅 April 16, 17, and 18
🕒 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
🎟️ First-come, first-served