Bingkai Karya – After closing the chapter on his ‘Mathematics’ series, Ed Sheeran returns in 2025 with bold creative energy, stepping into a refreshing new era. Known for his ever-evolving artistry, Ed’s latest album ‘Play’ showcases his musical growth through collaborations with producers and musicians from around the world. He dives deeper into the timeless sounds and themes that have made him one of the most beloved pop artists globally.
Partially inspired by his exposure to Indian and Persian musical cultures — and their unexpected connections to the Irish folk traditions he grew up with — Ed explores a musical language without borders. The result is an album with a unique, vibrant edge that feels both global and deeply personal.
More familiarly, ‘Play’ also reminds us why Ed Sheeran remains one of the most influential singer-songwriters of his generation. The album features a stunning blend of ballads and acoustic tracks, merging the familiar with the experimental. It delivers a bold, pop-tinged sound that only Ed Sheeran could create — a passionate showcase of artistry that feels both transformative and destined to be one of the most defining albums of the year.
“‘Play’ is an album made in direct response to the darkest time in my life,” Ed Sheeran shares. “Out of all of it, I just wanted to create joy, add color, and explore the cultures of the countries I visited. I recorded this album all over the world, finished it in Goa, India, and experienced the most fun and creatively freeing days of my life. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish — it sums up everything I love about music, the joy in it, but also my existence as a person, a partner, and a father.”
“Going into this album campaign, I told myself: I just want everything I do to be fun and joyful — which is why we built a pub for the folk songs, did shows on top of open buses, and sang with pink cowboy hats in bars. The older I get, the more I just want to enjoy things, and soak up all the crazy, chaotic moments.”
Following the release of the euphoric and color-drenched pop single Azizam, Ed turns nostalgic with his newest single Old Phone, a song that captures the disorienting act of looking back at the past. Upon turning on a phone he hadn’t used since 2015, he discovers unread messages from a late friend, arguments with an ex, and old family conversations — all of which highlight how time and distance reshape one’s identity.
Blending nostalgic acoustic melodies with raw emotion, Old Phone recalls Ed’s early songwriting style while embracing themes of memory and growth. It paints a portrait of an artist deeply shaped — and changed — by his past. The single is produced by Blake Slatkin and Ilya Salmanzadeh.
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