Ed Sheeran released a fresh, upbeat track, “Azizam,” on Thursday, marking the first single from his much-anticipated eighth album, Play. The song draws inspiration from Persian music, adding a unique twist to Sheeran’s usual style.
Along with the new release, Sheeran shared a “Pink Heart” video featuring footage shot across the U.S. during the promotional campaign for the song this month. In an Instagram teaser, he mentioned that an “official” music video will be coming soon, though the exact release date remains unconfirmed.
The track was produced by Ilyah Salmanzadeh, who has worked with artists like Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, and Tate McRae. Sheeran explained that the collaboration came about after Salmanzadeh suggested they explore music influenced by his Persian heritage and culture. The term “Azizam,” which translates to “my dear,” served as the inspiration for the song’s title.
In a March appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Sheeran revealed that the upcoming album Play is part of a broader concept that ties into the names of his previous albums. He also hinted at future album titles, suggesting a connection between them and his earlier works.
“When I was 18, I had an idea for 10 albums, and it was Plus, Multiply, Divide, Subtract, Equals, and then Play, Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward, and Stop,” Sheeran shared, noting that the idea was influenced by Quentin Tarantino’s plan to retire after making 10 films.
The release date for Play is still unclear, but Sheeran’s last album, Autumn Variations, debuted in 2023 and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. Although he hasn’t released new music since then, Sheeran has been busy with his Mathematics Tour, which began in Dublin in April 2022 and will conclude in September 2025 in Düsseldorf.
