Pop megastar Taylor Swift likely didn’t expect her name to show up on Bandcamp as the frontwoman of a screamo project. But that’s exactly what happened last week courtesy of New Jersey rocker Madison James. In this article we talk about Taylor Swift Bandcamp Hijack – Who Behind the Screamo Takeover.
James, who uses they/them pronouns and plays in the bands Ogbert the Nerd and No Good with Secrets, secured the url taylorswift.bandcamp.com and uploaded three screamo tracks under Swift’s name as a joke.
The songs “Taylor Swift 1,” “Taylor Swift 2,” and “Taylor Swift 3” are abrasive blends of screamed vocals, heavy guitars, and pummeling drums that sound nothing like Swift’s actual pop discography. Still, the Bandcamp hijacking sparked amusement and confusion among fans.
Behind the Screamo Takeover
So who exactly is behind this surreal Taylor Swift namesake project? Madison James is a multi-instrumentalist based in New Jersey who has played in various rock bands over the past decade.
Outside of their main groups Ogbert the Nerd and No Good with Secrets, James seems to enjoy snagging celebrity names for side music projects on Bandcamp. Their other claimed URLs include mychemicalromance.bandcamp.com, dualipa.bandcamp.com, daftpunk.bandcamp.com, and nikkiminaj.bandcamp.com.
James told Us Weekly that claiming taylorswift.bandcamp.com and uploading screamo songs under her name started as a joke on Twitter. After joking about “starting a screamo band” with the URL, James decided to bring the concept to fruition.
“There’s no bigger meaning to it besides a one-off joke I made and the way it spiraled into a wider discussion and thing people are excited over has been as funny as it’s been interesting,” they explained. “I don’t mean any malice or have any deep-rooted beliefs in the deeper meaning of any of this. I’m just having a little fun for the sake of making my friends laugh and maybe learning how to write better riffs.”
While the Taylor Swift hijacking started as a joke, James said it provided an outlet to explore a heavier musical style outside of their regular groups. The three tracks display their versatility and talent as a musician behind the screamo screams.
Taylor Swift’s Actual Bandcamp Page
While James’ hardcore songs are now linked to Taylor Swift’s name on Bandcamp, the global pop phenom does not actually have a presence on the platform. Swift has historically avoided streaming her music in the past outside of major services like Spotify and Apple Music.
However, Swift is embracing new distribution channels lately, most visibly through her partnership with Spotify to release the intimate vault recordings on her recent album The Tortured Poets Department. Uploading outtakes, live tracks, or alternate versions to Bandcamp would align with her recent strategy.
For now though, fans can only find Madison James’ screamo tracks instead of Swift’s hits when they visit taylorswift.bandcamp.com. James told Us Weekly they do plan to add more songs using her name “soon.”
Taylor Swift’s Real Music Plans
While James hijacks her name for screamo, what is the actual Taylor Swift up to musically in 2024? Swift is currently embarking on a global stadium tour in support of her record-breaking new album The Tortured Poets Department.
In May, Swift heads overseas for the UK/Europe run with girl group Muna and indie duo beabadoobee opening. Then in July, she returns stateside with support from Gracie Abrams and Gayle.
The Eras Tour is slated to run all the way through August 2024, giving Swift’s biggest fans around the world a chance to see her live. Madison James’ side project likely won’t interfere with her plans.
The Bottom Line
While the Taylor Swift Bandcamp screamo hijacking confused fans initially, it ultimately shines a light on an underrated DIY musician. Madison James deserves credit for their musical versatility and commitment to a bit, even if their harsh recordings are worlds away from Swift’s heartfelt love songs.
The stunt shows that with the right URL, anyone can command attention on Bandcamp — even in service of an outlandish joke. For actual Taylor Swift music though, fans will have to wait for the next chapter after her record-setting Eras Tour wraps. I sincerely hope you find this “Taylor Swift Bandcamp Hijack – Who Behind the Screamo Takeover?” article helpful.
