Taylor Swift has praised Welsh fans as phenomenal and on another level after the release of her 12th studio album, The Life Of A Showgirl. In discussing the Eras Tour, she told a radio host Cardiff crowds were unforgettable, describing them as ‘phenomenal’ and saying they were ‘on another level’. She also noted she wore orange at the Cardiff show as a hint to the album’s visual direction.

Swift performed at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium as part of the Eras Tour last June. She said even her record label did not know about the album until it was finished, after the artwork and other materials had been completed. She added that much of the work is kept in-house by her team to surprise the label while colleagues focus on distribution.

The Life Of A Showgirl contains 12 tracks, including Opalite, which appears to be about her fiancé, Travis Kelce, whose birthstone is opal; Actually Romantic, a track that has been described as a possible nod to another star; and Elizabeth Taylor. On release day, Swifties gathered in cinemas for The Official Release Party Of A Showgirl, with Vue UK & Ireland saying the weekend will include 80 sell-out sessions and more than 50,000 pre-sales. She is due to appear on The Tonight Show on 6 October and on Late Night With Seth Meyers on 8 October.