Ed Sheeran is officially pressing play on his next era. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter announced the release date of his much-anticipated new project, an album titled Play, and he’s giving fans plenty to buzz about. In a lively update shared on his social media and during recent appearances, Ed revealed that Play — his eighth studio album — will drop on September 12. Mark your calendars, Sheeran fans: it’s shaping up to be one of the fall’s biggest pop events.
The announcement of Play came with a flourish. Ed, 34, has been hinting for months that a new musical chapter was on the way, and he confirmed the title during a visit to The Tonight Show in March. There, he jokingly explained he’s moving on from the mathematical symbols that titled his past records. (After albums like Divide and Equals, where else to go?) Now he’s embracing a playful new theme: albums named after media player buttons. In fact, Play is just the start — Ed teased that future releases will be called Fast Forward, Rewind, and Stop as part of this concept. He even mused about one day making a posthumous compilation called Eject. Only Ed Sheeran would casually plan an album to be released from beyond the grave!
For now, fans can focus on the imminent Play. Ed has already given a taste of what to expect, and it’s sounding like a celebratory, genre-blending journey. “This whole album is about being playful, explorative, and celebratory,” he shared in a recent social media post, hinting that Play will be a bright contrast to 2023’s more melancholic – (Subtract). In fact, Ed calls Play a “real rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish.” He’s opened up about the inspiration behind it, saying the record was born out of a tough time in his life. “Play was an album made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life,” Ed explained in one candid statement. “Coming out of all of that, I just wanted to create joy and technicolor, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring.”
As summer winds down and September 12 approaches, expect anticipation to reach a fever pitch. Ed himself sounds energized and ready. “I made this record all over the world, finished it in Goa, India, and had some of the most fun, explorative creative days of my life,” he shared, signaling just how special this project is to him. After a challenging past year, the troubadour from Suffolk is stepping back into the spotlight with a smile — and inviting everyone to hit Play and join the celebration this fall.
