Almost exactly 14 years to the day after the release of his debut album, “Plus”, Ed Sheeran marks the beginning of a new era — the stereo era — with the release of his eighth studio album, “Play,” on Sept. 12.
Sheeran is a 34-year-old English singer-songwriter and producer, known for his unique projects with titles that reference mathematical symbols such as “Multiply,” “Divide,” “Equals” and “Subtract“. These projects are often referred to as the “mathematics era” and while they do not necessarily refer to math, they are grouped together to represent the themes behind specific phases of his life.
“When I was like 18, I had an idea for like 10 albums, Sheeran said in an interview with People. “It’s Plus, Multiply, Divide, Subtract, Equals, and then Play, Pause, Fast Forward, Rewind and Stop.”
His albums experiment with blending many different genres, including folk, pop, rap and R&B. He began releasing his own music in the form of EPs in 2005, but he did not release his first studio album until Sept. 2011.
“Play” is Sheeran’s most personal album, according to Billboard. It “celebrates love, life, culture, exploring, creativity and technicolour,” Sheeran said in an Instagram post. While the album fits within the pop genre, Sheeran also explores heart-wrenching ballads, fast-paced rap verses and many South Asian instrumentals and inspirations.
The stereo era is introduced with “Opening,” a song that draws the listener into Sheeran’s experience of grief, trauma and ultimate recovery. The song begins as a somber story, with lyrics that detail specific events from his life. He grieves the death of his friend Jamal Edwards, a music executive with whom Sheeran worked closely, and discusses the fear associated with his wife’s cancer scare back in 2022.
“Opening” bounces between emotional pop ballad verses and rap-style refrains that, while exciting, can become a bit overwhelming by the end. The ballads mixed with rap do not smoothly transition between one another, making it feel like many different songs in one.
Following “Opening,” “Sapphire” and “Azizam” bring more positive lyrics and playful instrumentals. The album’s third single, “Sapphire” was inspired by Sheeran’s recent trip to India, where he spent much of his time recording “Play.” In this song, Sheeran experiments with South Asian instrumentation, including the use of a sitar, a stringed instrument often resembling a lute that is popular in Hindustani music. Arijit Singh, an Indian singer, is featured on the song’s bridge singing in the northern Indian language, Punjabi. The song quickly jumped to number one on Spotify in India after its release in June.
Released in April, “Azizam” is the lead single off “Play.” The song embraces classic pop inspirations while introducing Persian and Indian percussion instruments into mainstream pop. The term “Azizam” refers to a Persian word that translates to “my dear.” In the song, Sheeran details his love for his wife, Cherry Seaborn, in lyrics such as “Well, tomorrow can wait, losin' time in this place. ′Til the sun is awake, be like a magnet on me.” While unique to mainstream American and U.K. pop, the inspirations from Indian music create a romantic sound.
While there are many upbeat songs on “Play,” Sheeran explores the ups and downs of life and love with a few acoustic ballads, including “Old Phone.” This song explores the concept of moving on and losing the connection you had with loved ones. “Old Phone” is by no means the most flashy, exciting or even experimental song off the album, but it shows his genuine emotions and vulnerability, confronting what has been broken and the process of healing from that.
Most of “Play” is experimentation, and “A Little More” is nothing short of experimental. The song is filled with funk and jazz inspirations, especially with the horn section of the instrumentals. It’s fun to bop along to without using over-the-top production. “A Little More” is straightforward in its lyrics, highlighting what it is like to exit a toxic relationship.
Finally, “Camera” is the perfect song for the casual Sheeran fan. With lyrics that connect deeply and upbeat instrumentals, “Camera” acts as a palate cleanser, bringing listeners back in after five straight songs of experimentation. The lyrics explore how beauty and memories do not always have to be captured, but simply appreciated.
Overall, “Play” manages to close one door and boldly step through another. While the album has many imperfections and constant experimentation that can seem forced at times, it is exciting. By weaving South Asian influences with familiar acoustic ballads, rap verses and pop anthems, Sheeran creates a project that feels both global and deeply personal.
More than just the start of the stereo era, “Play” is a reminder of why Sheeran remains one of the most compelling songwriters of this generation. “Play” is only just the beginning of an era that takes composing risks and challenges the standards of conventional pop artistry.
