A new Channel 4 documentary has revealed that Taylor Swift has a treasure trove of unreleased songs, with one early collaborator claiming to possess 16 tracks written by the pop star in 2003 that have never been heard by the public.
Songwriter Robert Ellis Orrall, who worked with Swift when she was just 13, said in the documentary: 'I have tons of these from way back. Here are 16 songs copyright 2003, the same year we started writing. None of those are anything you’ve ever heard.' Orrall co-wrote three tracks with Swift in their first two studio sessions, two of which appeared on her debut album.
The documentary also explores Swift's early career, including her discovery at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe by Scott Borchetta, who signed her to Big Machine Records. It features interviews with early collaborators and audio of Swift recalling her big break.
Swift's career faced a major setback in 2016 when a feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian erupted after the release of West's song 'Famous'. Kim Kardashian released clips of a phone call appearing to show Swift approving the lyrics, leading to a backlash and the viral hashtag #TaylorSwiftIsASnake. Swift was seen in the documentary crying to her mother, saying: 'I’ve been doing this for 15 years, I’m tired of it.'
Swift later reclaimed the snake motif for her 2017 album 'Reputation' and subsequent tour. In 2020, the full video of the Kanye call was released, proving Swift had not fully approved the lyrics. The documentary also covers Swift's 2017 sexual assault civil case win against DJ David Mueller, after which she donated to organisations supporting sexual assault victims.
