Ed Sheeran is officially back with "Azizam," the first taste of his highly anticipated eighth studio album, set to release later this year. Following a nearly two-year break since his last album, Autumn Variations, the English singer-songwriter surprises fans with a dance-driven track laced with Persian influences—a bold sonic shift and a heartfelt nod to global sounds.
Produced alongside Swedish-Iranian producer Ilya Salmanzadeh, the single showcases a more rhythmic, upbeat side of Sheeran’s artistry. The title itself—Azizam, a Persian term of endearment meaning "my dear"—hints at the song’s emotionally intimate core. In a teaser shared on Instagram, Sheeran danced beside Salmanzadeh, writing: "The album is done. Single soon." That single is now here, and it’s clear Sheeran is eager to break new ground.
“I’m really excited,” he shared, and fans across the world are already responding to the vibe shift with enthusiasm. To match the energy of the track, Sheeran dropped a visually rich music video directed by Liam Pethick, dubbed the "Pink Heart Video." Shot across the U.S. and Ipswich during recent promo stops, the video features real fan interactions and pink heart installations around the globe. “Wherever we went, the energy was amazing, and I wanted to reflect that in the video,” Sheeran said.
"Azizam" marks Sheeran’s first major release since Subtract and Autumn Variations in 2023. In late 2024, he also contributed the festive track "Under the Tree" to Netflix’s holiday film That Christmas. Meanwhile, Ed continues his record-breaking Mathematics Tour, which in 2025 has already hit stages in Bhutan, India, and China. After a brief break, the tour resumes April 30 in Qatar, wrapping up with a final European leg that ends in Düsseldorf this September.
Ed Sheeran presses play on a brand new era with the release of his new single "Azizam" out today at all digital service providers and also available in CD and 7" vinyl formats. The song is a return to joy, to light, to love, and to fun. "Azizam" began as a meeting of minds in the studio with Salmanzadeh. Driven by Ed's relentless curiosity, they soon realized 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 music video follows Sheeran as he travels across the U.S. and the UK, carrying a pink, heart-shaped balloon. Ed Sheeran has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He has won four Grammys and seven Brit Awards, among other accolades. The video shows Sheeran in a soccer stadium, backstage at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and walking in the rain with a pink balloon.
"We filmed this across the USA (and a bit in Ipswich)," the music artist said, referencing the town in England. "...It was an amazing atmosphere wherever we went. I wanted to reflect that with the video." As the video continues, Sheeran is seen dancing in a crowd with a giant pink balloon behind the group. "I'm so overwhelmed with the positive reaction to this song," he wrote in an Instagram post Friday. "And so excited for all the other surprises I have for you. Hope this sets the scene of the soundtrack to your summer. More to come."
Sheeran's upcoming studio album, Play, marks his first since Autumn Variations, released in 2023. Details remain scant on Play, although Atlantic says it will feature "producers and writers from across the globe." With "Azizam," Sheeran proves once again he’s not just a pop staple—he’s a global storyteller ready to surprise and evolve. The next chapter begins now.
