Taylor Swift's fans have been left scratching their heads after discovering that the international pop sensation has penned several songs for various artists under a mysterious pseudonym. It's not unusual for individuals, particularly celebrities, to adopt pseudonyms if they wish to remain anonymous or avoid recognition for their work.
For instance, renowned author Stephen King used the alias Richard Bachman when his publishers suggested he was producing 'too many books', while his son Joseph writes under the pen name Joe Hill, having chosen to conceal his true identity early in his career to succeed on his own merits rather than through his father's fame. Swedish DJ Avicii is another example of a pseudonym, used by Tim Bergling during his performances.
Some singers also opt to use pseudonyms when crafting songs for other artists, and global superstar Taylor Swift is among them. The Shake It Off singer is celebrated for her sincere and emotive songwriting, often inspired by her personal life and romantic experiences.
However, not all fans are aware that she has also written songs for other performers. Swift had a relationship with Scottish DJ Calvin Harris from 2015 to 2016.
Despite their tumultuous breakup, which included a series of bitter social media posts and tabloid revelations, fans later discovered that the pair had collaborated on a hit song for another chart-topping artist. Swift co-wrote this hit under the pseudonym Nils Sjöberg, reports the Mirror.
The duo penned Rihanna's chart-topping track 'This Is What You Came For', which debuted in 2016. Despite the song being released nine years ago, fans continue to be astounded by this revelation.
One such fan took to Reddit to share their discovery.
"Taylor used to adopt a pseudonym, Nils Sjöberg, when she composed music for other artists," the individual shared on the Reddit thread. "Intrigued by why she specifically chose him, I researched the real Nils Sjöberg and discovered he was a poet,".
The post also featured screenshots from Wikipedia indicating that the alias Nils Sjöberg could refer to a Swedish officer and poet born in 1754.
The Reddit user further elaborated that the titles of the poet's most renowned works translate to 'The Bard', 'The Atheist', 'The Farmer', and 'Immortality'. They noted these titles bear resemblance to the song titles on Swift's 2024 album 'The Tortured Poets Department'.
"I just find it fascinating, considering that so far from 'The Tortured Poets Department', we have 'The Alchemy,' 'The Bolter,' and 'The Albatross'," the Reddit user remarked.
"I thought this provided an intriguing insight into what might have inspired her for this album."
The theory sparked a flurry of comments as many lauded the pop sensation for her ingenious choice of pseudonym.
"God she's a genius," one individual commented, while another quoted a lyric from one of the singer's tracks, stating: "Truly a mastermind," in reference to a Swift song of the same title.
However, not everyone was convinced that the pseudonym carried a hidden significance. 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."
In response, another user noted: "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."