Ed Sheeran releases his new album, Play. After closing the chapter on his Mathematics series, Sheeran is stepping boldly into a fresh new phase for 2025. An artist who is constantly evolving, Play finds Sheeran exploring new musical ground through collaboration with producers and musicians from across the globe, as well as diving deeper into the timeless sounds and themes that have made him one of the world’s best-loved pop artists.

Inspired in part by his exposure to Indian and Persian musical cultures, and their surprising connections to the Irish folk tradition he grew up with through shares scales, rhythms, and melodies, he has explored a borderless musical language that has given the album a fresh, distinctive edge. On more familiar ground, Sheeran reminds us why he remains one of the most influential singer-songwriters of his generation, as he deliveries a series of tracks that speak to his wholehearted balladry. The result is a collection that plays with both the familiar and new, creating an exciting bold, pop-driven sound that feels transformative.  

On Friday 12 September, Ed Sheeran will head to NPR’s offices for a special livestreamed Tiny Desk performance, where he’ll play a selection of new music on his loop station in the first-ever livestreamed Tiny Desk concert of this scale. Fans can tune in.