Manila Swifties get to taste the Swift life

"This is Taylor Swift: A Spotify Experience" feels like hanging out with the artist in person. —PHOTOS BY RUTH L. NAVARRA

Diving into the immersive ocean of Taylor Swift’s poetry is what Swifties’ (her fandom) wildest dreams are made of. Her words fall from the sky like shooting stars, bursting into tiny sparks that ripple into waves crashing on the shore. But instead of the sound of waves, her songs fill the air, and people sing along.

It’s the “This is Me Writing” room, an enchanting space inside “This is Taylor Swift: A Spotify Experience” at Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City, Quezon City. The exhibition ran for only four days, from Feb. 21 to Feb. 24, and it was free of charge. Unsurprisingly, all slots were taken days before its opening.

Visitors collect stamps for memorabilia.

The experience was a celebration of Swift’s artistry, from her music to her signature charm and creative brilliance. It began with “The Great Collection,” where all 11 of her musical eras were displayed. NFC technology was heavily utilized. With a simple tap on the panel, visitors could access playlists from these eras, making it a fully interactive experience.

It was further supplemented by “Message in a Booth,” where visitors could listen to Swift talk about her songwriting process over the phone. There were four telephone booths in this room, and to hear her voice, you simply dialed T-A-Y-L-O-R.

Swift shared the background of her songs and what they mean to her. For example, “All Too Well” wasn’t the title track of the “Red” album, but it was her favorite. She was surprised by how deeply it resonated with fans as well. They loved that Swift chose to perform it at the Grammys. It’s a testament to how she values her fans.

Every inch of the experience is a photo wall

Synergy

This synergy between Swift and her fans continued in “Chocolate Street,” a space that celebrated fan creativity. A cup of hot chocolate made from melted cocoa bombs paid homage to the TikTok trend where fans showed support for Swift’s tour in a sweet and heartwarming way.

This is what makes being a fan of Swift a beautiful thing. Positivity is passed around like a pink cupcake topped with glittered cream, or in Swifties’ lore, colorful bead bracelets are made, shared, and collected. Friendship bracelets were given away with cups of hot chocolate.

Each hot choco came with a friendship bracelet.

Another gift for guests was a miniature CD cover key ring that doubled as an NFC tag, leading directly to Swift’s playlist. Visitors were also able to take home another souvenir from the “In Picture to Keep” photo booth, capturing memories of the day. The entire exhibit felt like spending time with the artist herself, creating a uniquely personal experience.

Cheskie Ayson, Spotify communications lead for Asia Pacific, emphasized that the exhibit was a testament to Swift’s dedication to connecting with her fans. The experience first premiered in Jakarta, Indonesia, with Manila as its second stop.

A room that allows guests to bathe in the words of Swift.

Swift continues to make history as Spotify’s 2024 Global Artist for the second consecutive year, racking up 26.6 billion streams worldwide. Notably, the Philippines ranks as her second-biggest streaming market.

“This represents Spotify’s commitment to connecting Asian fans with global superstars like Taylor Swift and creating innovative, interactive experiences that both fans and artists can enjoy,” Ayson said.

Perhaps this is just the beginning, an exciting hint of more to come.