Ed Sheeran appeared on The Tonight Show and revealed exciting details about his new musical journey, talking about his upcoming album, his worldwide recordings, and his never-ending quest to write songs that Rihanna will choose.
New Album: “Play” and the Ambition of 10 Discs
The popular singer confirmed how about his next album it will be called “Play”, marking the start of a new creative series of albums. After the successful mathematical symbols that characterized his last five works (+, x, ÷, =, –), Sheeran continues with a theme inspired by the control buttons of media players: Play, Pause, Rewind, Fast-Forward and Stop.
Inspired by Quentin Tarantino, who had announced that he would create 10 movies, Sheeran plans to do 10 discs and then retire, with some occasional releases in between. However, he did not rule out the idea of a posthumous album with unreleased tracks, which he is thinking of naming “Eject” and to be released on the day he passes away.
“Azizam”: A Multicultural Musical Journey
His new single, “Azizam”, was inspired by the Persian culture, thanks to his collaboration with the Persian producer Illya SalmanzadehIts title means “my dear/my beloved” in Farsi, and as Sheeran revealed, the song was also recorded entirely in that language.
His musical exploration, however, does not stop there:
At China, recorded a version with traditional Chinese instruments.
At India, created a version with Indian musical elements.
At Ireland, he added the traditional music of his place.
In Nashville, collaborated with bluegrass musicians.
He stressed that, although the pace changes from country to country, the music is a universal language that can connect different cultures.
Rihanna's Unfulfilled Dream
Although he has written huge hits, such as Shape of You, Sheeran revealed that the track originally intended for RihannaAt the same time, he stated that every time he creates an album, He's also working on a song that he hopes she'll choose..
"Rihanna has the better musical feeling from anyone," he commented, also revealing that the “Love Yourself”, which was eventually recorded by Justin Bieber, was originally written for her.
“Old Phone”: A Song, A Pub and A Music Video with a Unique Idea
Continuing his originality, Sheeran presented the song “Old Phone”, which inspired a special experience for his fans.
At Ipswich, Massachusetts, will open a pop-up pub for two days (from March 28), where entry will be with a old mobile! Visitors are invited to send a message or video with personal meaning, which will be projected on the walls of the pub, as part of the filming of his new music video.
The Masterful Playing of the Loop Pedal and a Surprise on the New York Subway
During the show, Sheeran demonstrated live how uses the loop pedal, a tool that allows him to creates music in real time, recording different timbres and rhythms. Playing the Shape of You, Fallon joined in on vocals, creating an unforgettable moment.
He also revealed that recently made a secret appearance on the New York subway, interpreting “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan, surprising passersby with a spontaneous performance.
With a new album on the horizon, experimentation with different musical genres and the constant effort to collaborate with Rihanna, Ed Sheeran proves that his music knows no bounds. Are you ready to “Play”? 
