Ed Sheeran launched his eighth studio album Play, a bold, transformative collection that marks the end of his Mathematics series and the dawn of a fresh creative phase, blending his signature heartfelt balladry with experimental global influences drawn from Indian and Persian musical traditions. Released through Gingerbread Man Records and Atlantic Records under Warner Music, Play spans 13 tracks over 44 minutes, featuring collaborations with producers like Ilya Salmanzadeh, Andrew Watt, Louis Bell, Blake Slatkin, Cirkut, Omer Fedi, Savan Kotecha, Elvira Anderfjärd, and Johnny McDaid, as detailed on Genius and Apple Music. 1 7 To celebrate the drop, Sheeran unveiled the official music video for the fifth single “Camera,” a reverent ballad co-produced by Ilya (Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello), Andrew Watt (Post Malone), and Louis Bell (Justin Bieber), starring Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor in a tender recreation of Sheeran’s early romance with his wife Cherry Seaborn. Directed by longtime collaborator Emil Nava and shot entirely on iPhone in Croatia’s picturesque Old Town—from moped cruises and bar-hops to a stadium stage cameo—the video captures the raw spontaneity of new love, as Sheeran explained on Instagram, opting to protect their privacy by re-enacting key moments rather than using private footage. 20 21 22 Fans can stream Play and watch the “Camera” video now, with the album debuting at No. 3 on Spotify’s Top Albums Debut Global chart and No. 5 in the U.S., amassing millions of streams in its first days, per fan updates on X. 30 32 This release, timed for the vibrant “-ber months,” resonates deeply in Southeast Asia, where Sheeran maintains strong ties through his 2024 + – = ÷ x (Mathematics) Tour stops in Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with the latter ranking No. 3 and Indonesia No. 7 in his top 10 global streaming markets, as noted in the press release.
Play represents Sheeran’s evolution after the introspective acoustic albums Subtract and Autumn Variations (both 2023), returning to “big pop” with a borderless musical language inspired by his exposure to Indian and Persian cultures, which echo the Irish folk traditions of his Suffolk upbringing through shared scales, rhythms, and melodies. 0 3 The 13-track lineup, teased via an interactive object-guessing game on his website, includes the lead single “Azizam” (April 4, 2025, meaning “my darling” in Persian, debuting at No. 3 UK Singles Chart and No. 28 Billboard Hot 100), “Old Phone” (May 1), “Sapphire” (June 5, featuring Arijit Singh in a Hindi-English-Punjabi duet with tabla and santoor), “A Little More” (August 7, a fiery vent on anger), and now “Camera.” 0 1 4 5 Other highlights pulse with electro-pop sensuality in “Unconditional” (inspired by Cherry’s lupus battle), confessional beats in “Self Saboteur,” lavish truths in “Natural At Disaster,” ethereal introspection in “Silent Disco,” and more, creating a “rollercoaster of emotions” that encapsulates Sheeran’s life as a partner and father, as he shared on Genius. 1 Critics hail it as a “wild ride through electroclash, Eurovision drama, and emotive synth-pop” (The Guardian), praising its “fun, frothy” chaos (Rolling Stone) and “solid” summer vibes (Vulture), though noting occasional “whiplash” in its maximalism. 8 Sheeran reflected to L’OFFICIEL, “This has been years in the making—I’m proud of this body of work, and performing it live is a dream.” 4
The “Camera” video, directed by Emil Nava and filmed starting August 19, 2025, on Croatia’s Hvar island and wrapping in Split, portrays the early sparks of romance through iPhone POV shots: a restaurant first date, park picnic, Old Town bar-hops, moped rides, and a stadium stage share during Sheeran’s +−=÷× Tour in Sweden on August 22. 20 21 26 Dynevor, standing in for Cherry, brings Bridgerton-esque charm, with fans on X raving about the “good vibes” and “electric” pairing, as seen in posts from @josettecaruso and @News5PH. 25 33 36 Sheeran’s caption emphasized privacy: “We’re an intensely private couple, so I recreated key moments with the wonderful Phoebe.” 20 22 The ballad, a celebration of deep connection, debuted at No. 33 on Global Spotify with 2.48 million streams and No. 52 in the U.S. with 545k, per @PopBase. 37
To amplify the launch, Sheeran hosted exclusive pop-up experiences in Shanghai, Manila, Hong Kong, and Singapore from September 9-23 (Hong Kong until 21), featuring Polaroid-powered interactive booths, limited-edition merch, and immersive album zones presented by Warner Music, kicking off with Spotify-partnered listening parties for premium fans. 41 42 44 47 50 In Manila at SM Mall of Asia, fans like @JeffconJc captured the buzz, with X posts highlighting the “ultimate Sheerio” vibe. 38 That evening at 5pm BST (12pm ET), Sheeran made history with NPR’s first large-scale livestreamed Tiny Desk Concert from their D.C. offices, layering new tracks like “Sapphire” and “Azizam” via loop station with guitar and keyboard, plus a fan-favorite “Photograph,” drawing 15 million views like his 2021 home edition. 10 11 13 15 16 Sheeran, in a pink T-shirt matching the album art, admitted nerves to the NPR crowd, building full-band sounds solo, as Billboard reported. 16
Sheeran’s Southeast Asia affinity shines: his 2024 Mathematics Tour hit Manila’s Philippine Arena (May 29-30, 75k fans nightly), Singapore’s National Stadium (Feb 2-3), Indonesia’s Gelora Bung Karno (Feb 10-11), and more, with the Philippines and Indonesia in his top 10 streaming markets. 45 44 The pop-ups, from Manila’s Seaside Blvd (Sept 9-23) to Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay light show (Sept 12-14), foster connection, as @News5PH noted. 33 38 49 X buzz, from @globaltrendsX’s “adventurous release” to @Rockycival’s “10/10 no bad song,” reflects the excitement. 32 39
Play‘s tracklist—1. Opening, 2. Azizam, 3. Old Phone, 4. Sapphire (ft. Arijit Singh), 5. A Little More, 6. Camera, 7. Unconditional, 8. Self Saboteur, 9. Natural At Disaster, 10. Silent Disco, 11. Symmetry, 12. In Other Words, 13. For Always—balances pop bangers like the fiery “A Little More” with ballads like “Symmetry” and “In Other Words,” per Genius. 1 4 “Opening” raps about replacements and drive, while “Don’t Look Down” adds edge. 4 13 Critics note its “dark undercurrent” amid paranoia and loss (The Guardian), but praise the “playful” fun Sheeran craved. 8 The Loop Tour starts December 2025 in Europe and Oceania, per Wikipedia. 0
Sheeran’s 2025 has been triumphant: BRIT Pop Act win for “Angel Of My Dreams” (though from prior, echoed in Play), Glastonbury, Radio 1’s Big Weekend, All Points East, Mighty Hoopla, TRNSMT, Montreux Jazz, BBC Proms orchestral set, and Chappell Roan support in Edinburgh. 4 The TikTok Live at Brooklyn’s Domino Park (Sept 14) featured in-app album hubs and new tracks. 30 31 With 20 years since self-released debut, Play reaffirms his influence, as BBC questions if it reclaims his crown amid cultural shifts. 3 Stream Play and “Camera” now—it’s Sheeran’s most playful, profound chapter yet.
The Pop Blog general news and updates, mostly from press releases and conferences.