Details emerge on Ed Sheeran's new album

Ed Sheeran's new album ‘=’ (pronounced ‘Equals’) will be released on October 29 through Atlantic Records (pre-order HERE). The album track ‘Visiting Hours’ now has a performance video (watch HERE). 

“‘=’ (Equals) is a really personal record and one that means a lot to me," Sheeran says in a press release. "My life changed greatly over the past few years – I got married, became a father, experienced loss, and I reflect on these topics over the course of the album. I see it as my coming-of-age record, and I can’t wait to share this next chapter with you.”

This is the fourth instalment in Sheeran’s symbol album series. The songs were made over a four year period following his ‘÷’ (Divide) album era.  

‘Visiting Hours’ was inspired by the loss of Sheeran mentor and friend, Michael Gudinski, and written shortly after his passing. Performed for the first time at Michael’s State Memorial in March, the track, which is joined by a performance video (watch HERE), features backing vocals from Michael’s close friends, Kylie Minogue and Jimmy Barnes.

Written and recorded across Suffolk, London, Sweden and LA, the album’s executive production comes from Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid (Divide) and others. Sheeran’s brother, Matthew, a composer, also contributes string arrangements on ‘First Times’ and ‘The Joker And The Queen’. The album artwork is a collage of butterfly imagery symbolizing the albums’ thread of ‘new life’ and is backdropped by one of Ed’s own abstract paintings.

In June, Sheeran released the album’s lead single, ‘Bad Habits’, with a companion music video that has amassed over 120 million views ands received 3 nominations at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, including “Video of the Year.”

In his native UK, the track has spent seven consecutive weeks at #1, and is the fastest track to reach half a million sales this year. Looking ahead, Sheeran will play an intimate fan show at London’s O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on September 2 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his debut album ‘+’, before coming stateside for a nationally televised performance at the 2021 NFL Kickoff on September 9, ahead of the season opening game between the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys, airing on NBC.

Tracklist:

1. Tides

2. Shivers
3. First Times
4. Bad Habits
5. Overpass Graffiti
6. The Joker And The Queen
7. Leave Your Life
8. Collide
9. 2step
10. Stop The Rain
11. Love In Slow Motion
12. Visiting Hours
13. Sandman
14. Be Right Now