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Ed Sheeran released his new single “Azizam” on Friday (April 4) – and therefore heralds not only a new musical phase, but also an entire album series. The song is the first harbinger of the upcoming album Play, which is supposed to start a thematic series with the titles break, rewind, fast-forward and stop.
Musically, Sheeran again strikes “Azizam” much more danceable tones. The track comes as a airy mid-tempo dance pop with folk twist-a collaboration with the Swedish-I-ILANICHER ILYA Salmanzadeh, which is already known for her work with Ariana Grande and Charli XCX.
Ed Sheeran: What does “Azizam” mean?
“Azizam” means “my dear” or “my love” on Farsi – a term that Ed Sheeran, according to his own statements in the studio of Salmanzadeh’s Persian Background, picked up and installed directly into the hook. The musician moves with the new song between club romance and poetic visual language: “Meet Me on the Floor Tonight / Show Me How to Move Like The Water. The Dancing Lights.” Sounds like a nightly escape in music, light and closeness – and after an Ed Sheeran who wants pop again.
If you were traveling on Instagram, you may have guessed for a long time that there is something in the pipeline. In mid -March, Sheeran had already shared a section of the song and announced: “Album Done. Single Soon.” Since then he has also been traveling live with the song – for example, with spontaneous appearances in an Irish Pub in Boston or with the Soul Rebels Brass Band in New Orleans. The clip with a pink heart air balloon in tow has now become the official “Pink Heart Video”.
“Even if Azizam is very different from anything I have done so far, it still feels familiar to me,” says Ed. “The song should feel like an exuberant party, and Ilya Salmanzadeh helped me to bring this idea to life. Working with him was incredibly inspiring.”
The last studio album Autumn Variations was released in 2023, now the next cycle begins with Play. Sheeran is currently taking a break from his “Mathematics” world tour before continuing with a concert in Qatar at the end of April. Until then, dancing can be danced – in between the dancing lights.