ED SHEERAN ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM ‘=’
Ed Sheeran announced on August 19th that his fourth album, called ‘=’ will be released on October 29th via Atlantic Records. It’s a coming-of- age album spanning 14 tracks. It includes his current hit single ‘Bad Habits’ as well as ‘Visiting Hours,’ which is his tribute to late Australian mentor and friend Michael Gudinski. It was written shortly after his death: “I wish that heaven had visiting hours / So I can just swing by and ask your advice.” He debuted the song at a memorial for Gudinski back in 24th March.
‘=’ (Equals) is a really personal record and one that means a lot to me,” he said in an announcement. “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.”
The fourth installment in Sheeran’s ‘symbol album’ series, ‘=’ is ‘a collection of songs that were produced during a period of four years following his seminal ‘÷’ (Divide) album era. Thematically, ‘=’ finds Ed taking charge of his life and the people in it, as he explores the varying degrees of love (‘The Joker and The Queen’, ‘First Times’, ‘2step’), loss (‘Visiting Hours’), resilience (‘Can’t Stop The Rain’) and fatherhood (‘Sandman’, ‘Leave Your Life’), while also processing his reality and career (‘Tides’).
It’s quite interesting that Sheeran contributed to part of the new album’s cover art which was later finished by a friend. The image of chrysalis and butterflies featured on the album cover represents “new life” according to Sheeran.
Written and recorded across England, Sweden and Los Angeles, the album’s executive production was done by Ed Sheeran, Fred (“No.6 Collaborations Project”) and Johnny McDaid (“Divide”), with additional writing and/or production provided by Steve Mac, Joe Rubel, Amy Wadge, Foy Vance, Elvira Anderfjard, David Hodges, Andrew Watt, Lou Bell, Natalie Hemby and Ben Kweller. Sheeran’s brother, Matthew, a composer, also contributes string arrangements on “First Times” and “The Joker and the Queen.”
Check out the album track list and watch the “Visiting Hours” video below.
‘=’ Track list:
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
—Silviya Yohannan
