Ed Sheeran – Play
There is no doubt that Ed Sheeran is a musical chameleon. He has explored a down-to-earth folk-pop hybrid with Plus and Multiply, embraced pure pop with Divide, blended singer-songwriter sensibilities with electronic elements on Equals, and stripped everything back to the acoustic bones of Subtract. Regardless of which genre dominates the charts, there is almost always an Ed Sheeran song climbing alongside it. But with Subtract marking the end of his maths-themed era, Sheeran turns the page with his eighth studio album: Play.
Play introduces an entirely new direction for Sheeran, yet it still sounds unmistakably like him. The album’s lead single, Azizam, was the first signal of this shift. Designed for radio play with its infectious chorus and high-energy production, the track echoes the accessibility of past hits. “Azizam” means “my dear” or “my beloved” in Farsi, hinting at a deeper influence on the record. That inspiration comes from producer Illya Salmanzadeh and his Persian heritage, which permeates much of Play and gives the project life.
With Azizam still fresh in listeners’ minds, Play kicks off with Opening, a track as unpredictable as it is bold. It begins with a familiar acoustic, singer-songwriter style before rapidly morphing into a rhythm-heavy, rap-like second half. Although chaotic in sound, Sheeran shows he is leaving behind the raw emotional vulnerability of Subtract and embracing a new chapter filled with joy, energy, and, above all, love. While Opening lays this out explicitly, Sheeran allows the rest of the album to expand on this more organically.
Tracks like Sapphire, Symmetry, Don’t Look Down, and Heaven are clear standouts as they showcase the artist at his best. Sheeran has played with genres over the years, but these moments are drastically different to anything he has attempted before, and it’s refreshing. The production pays homage to Salmanzadeh’s Persian roots, and the songs successfully tie into one another, celebrating passion, connection and cultural appreciation.
However, Play begins to feel slightly scattered when Sheeran reverts to his comfort zone with a handful of acoustic ballads. Songs like Slowly, The Vow and For Always maintain lyrical consistency but clash sonically with the high-energy, unique tone set earlier. This could be a conscious choice to highlight that it is okay to reminisce on past versions of oneself, especially when focusing on the good, but it comes across as a hesitant step backwards. Sheeran seems to “play it safe” rather than fully commit to his artistic leap.
Despite these moments of tonal inconsistency, Play fits well amongst Ed Sheeran’s beloved discography. It proves that reinvention does not have to come at the cost of authenticity. While not every risk lands perfectly, the album signals a newfound creative courage that makes Sheeran’s departure from mathematical symbols sound more exciting than ever. With Play, Sheeran reminds us that evolving does not mean letting go of who you are, but rather looking forward to new possibilities.
Taryn Crowley
Image: Petros Studio
Play is released on 12th September 2025. For further information or to order the album, visit Ed Sheeran’s website here.
Watch the video for Sapphire here:
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