Multiple Diamond-certified, global superstar Ed Sheeran presses play on a brand new era with the release of his new single “Azizam” out today at all DSPs and also available in CD and 7” vinyl formats.
Taking the title from a Persian term of endearment that means “my dear” or “my beloved,” Ed’s new song is a return to joy, to light, to love and to fun.
“Azizam” began as a meeting of minds in the studio with Swedish/Iranian producer Ilya Salmanzadeh (Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, Ellie Goudling, Sam Smith). Driven by Ed’s relentless curiosity they soon realised how much Persian and Irish folk music have in common and how only Ed could set those influences in a pop context. The result is a hedonistic technicolor call to action to live the moment “in between the dancing lights” on the dancefloor until the Sun rises. A celebration of cross-cultural collaborations brought to life, this rhythmic pop song is about the universality of emotion.
Ed said…“Even though it’s completely different to anything that I’ve ever done before, Azizam feels familiar to me. I wanted to create a party atmosphere in a song and Ilya Salmanzadeh, who I worked with on the track, helped bring that to life. He was so inspiring to work with.”
The new era already hints at a lighter and more playful side of the acclaimed singer-songwriter. Ed first teased the song last month with an impromptu street performance of “Azizam” in New Orleans with brass sensations The Soul Rebels (watch here), only to pop up with a surprise set in Nashville that same night, and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at a pub in Boston less than 48 hours later. Just last week, he took to NYC where he appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” explaining the origin of “Azizam” (watch here) and teaching Jimmy how to use his signature loop pedal (watch here). The following day, Ed brought a piece of his own Suffolk, England home to the states, building an authentic pub in the town of Ipswich, Massachusetts – as exclusively featured in Architectural Digest – for local fans to enjoy with him and double as a music video set.
In the video accompanying today’s single release, Ed brings viewers along for the ride on his recent journey across the US (and a bit of the UK), as chronicled by director/videographer Liam Pethick. In addition to the aforementioned surprise pop-ups, he jumps in a taxi cab to take in the sights of New York, and cruises through Los Angeles in a classic convertible, with plenty of stops in between, including a visit to his beloved hometown soccer team, Ipswich Town FC.
After closing the chapter on his Mathematics era, Ed Sheeran is finally back and stepping boldly into a fresh new phase for 2025. An artist who has continuously pushed himself, and his craft, into new territory, Sheeran has collaborated with producers and writers from across the globe on his upcoming album, which promises to be one of the years defining pop records (details of which will be released soon).
