Ryan Adams likens Taylor Swift to William Shakespeare

Ryan Adams has compared Taylor Swift to legendary writer William Shakespeare.

The singer-songwriter recently released his own version of the pop star's 2014 record '1989'.

Speaking in a new interview with the Guardian, Adams said going from his own material to Swift's was like "being in Ghostbusters or something, and then all of a sudden I have to go do Shakespeare".

He added that the US star's 2008 song 'White Horse' initially turned him onto the singer.

Adams continued: "The first time I heard it I got chills head to toe. I remember feeling shocked by her voice, shocked at how clean that song was.

"I like stuff that sort of penetrates through my regular consciousness and hits me where I’m not looking. That’s usually stuff that’s a little darker.

"You know, that song is really about disillusionment on such a grand scale. I just thought about how this is hitting me like a tidal wave, it’s so romantic and so beautiful, and yet so sad and so disillusioned - it’s all the stuff I love about the Smiths.

"That song f***ed me up and I couldn’t believe it. Her voice does this thing. It just goes through all my bullsh*t detectors and right into my heart and soul."

Swift has constantly returned the love to Adams, promoting his record and and taking part in joint interviews.

Listen to Adams' Swift covers below: