Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran might just be one of the most successful singer-songwriters of our time. From his humble beginnings playing music in older people's homes, to his status as a worldwide superstar, his story is one that is sure to inspire many. Known for his energetic live shows, his use of a loop pedal, and even throwing in some raps, Ed's music has become a staple in the pop industry, earning him countless accolades and fans.

With over 20 years of experience as a content writer and music expert for top music websites, I've had the opportunity to witness Ed Sheeran's rise to fame firsthand. In this article, I'll provide a detailed account of Ed Sheeran's background, career trajectory, and his most recent projects.

About Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran was born in Halifax, England, but raised in Suffolk, England. His passion for music started at a young age, and he began playing the guitar as early as four years old. Sheeran's success story began while he was a teenager, playing music in older people's homes and busking in the USA. He first caught the attention of a record producer while busking and soon began performing nearly a thousand gigs and street performances before getting the recognition he deserved.

His talent was undeniable, and soon, unsigned projects such as Loose Change and Songs I Wrote with Amy caught the attention of critics and fans alike. These projects relied on the production of long-term collaborator Jake Gosling and signaled the beginning of a hugely successful musical relationship.

Teaming up with some of the biggest names in UK grime, such as Wiley, Ghetts, Jme and more, he released the No. 5 Collaborations Project in January 2011. One of the songs on the album, “Little Lady” (feat. Mikill Pane), became a fan favourite. So much so that Ed made a more radio-friendly solo version entitled “The A Team” which catapulted him to stardom. The song has since gone on to sell over a million copies in the UK and two million in the US.

Asylum/Atlantic Records quickly picked up Sheeran, and he released another single entitled “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You”. He released his debut album + in September 2011, which received critical acclaim. It topped the UK Albums Chart and has sold nearly two million copies in the UK alone. Ed continued to release successful singles and features, culminating in his 7x Platinum sophomore album, which features hit singles such as “Don’t”, “Thinking Out Loud” and “Bloodstream”.

In 2017, after an entire year of social media silence, Sheeran announced his comeback on New Year’s Day. His third album, ‘÷ (Divide)’, was released in March and included the hit singles “Castle on the Hill” and “Shape of You”. The album proved to be a commercial and critical success. It became the most streamed album in the world with 3.1 billion streams and he was the most streamed artist on Spotify with 47 million monthly listeners that same year.

A year later, Sheeran largely spent 2018 and the first half of 2019 on tour, but he also found time to work on his next album. In July of 2019, he released No.6 Collaborations Project, a genre-blending project that included collaborations with a wide array of artists such as Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, PnB Rock, and many more.

After announcing another hiatus in December 2019, he came back in September 2020 with the news that he and Cherry Seaborn were expecting their first child named Lyra Antarctica Seaborn. He then released “Afterglow” in December 2020, saying that it isn’t the first single of his new album, it’s just a song he loves.

In June 2021, he released a new single named “Bad Habits” which is the lead single for his 5th album, = (Equals). In August 2021, he announced that his next album would be called = (Equals). In August, he announced that his next album will be released on 29th October 2021, with a promotional single, “Visiting Hours” for his close friend that died 6 months prior. Another single called “Shivers” was released the following month. Along with the album’s worldwide release, another single, “Overpass Graffiti” was also released, complete with an official video. In December, he released a Christmas special collaboration song with Elton John called “Merry Christmas,” which is included only in the Christmas edition of Equals.

In May 2022, he released the repackaged edition of = (Equals), which includes 10 additional songs that weren't included in the standard edition, such as “Penguins” and “One Life” from the 2019 film Yesterday, “I Will Remember You” and “Welcome To The World”.

Throughout his career, Ed Sheeran has continued to push the boundaries of pop music, constantly experimenting with different genres and sounds. His heartfelt lyrics and catchy melodies have earned him countless fans, and his live shows are legendary. Ed Sheeran's impact on the music industry is undeniable, and there's no denying that he will continue to make waves for years to come.