Since the release of Ed Sheeran’s No.6 Collaborations Project in mid-2019, it seemed as though Ed fell off the face of the planet. Towards the end of 2019, he announced that he was distancing himself from the public eye for a year and a half. He stuck to his word. Although, this wasn’t his first reclusion rodeo. This was Ed’s second hiatus in a five-year timespan but now it has finally ended. Minus his 2020 winter holiday release of his song “Afterglow,” Ed has been radio silent on the pop/acoustic music scene. Lately, artists like Taylor Swift and Harry Styles have been receiving top-notch hype for their new music and tours. What has the “Everything Has Changed” counterpart and “Little Things” writer been up to? Similarly, Ed is now in line to gain traction through his new album Equals (=). An era of upcoming music, music videos and world tour await. Here is everything you have to look forward to as a Sheerio this fall.
1. Equals (=) New Album(s)
During quarantine, Ed created two babies: one named Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran who was born in Aug. of 2020, and the other one titled Equals is due to be released on Oct. 29, 2021. That’s only a month and a half away! Equals will be Ed’s fourth mathematical-themed studio album, adding to his set of works Plus, Multiply and Divide.
After Ed’s confirmation of Equals on Aug. 19, he has released one single titled “Bad Habits” and released his next one “Shivers,” on Sep. 9. So far “Bad Habits” has been streamed over 34 million times on Spotify. Rolling Stone magazine summarized an interview Ed had with late-night host James Corden. Ed explained that the reason he released “Bad Habits” first was because he felt that the pandemic-stricken world needed an energetic bop as it opened back up rather than one that tugged on one’s heartstrings. However, Ed has also released a performance of “Visiting Hours” on YouTube, revealing the emotional sound and personal anecdote of another imminent track.
Stuart Camp, Ed’s manager, hinted in a recent interview with Variety that there is likely more than one album on the horizon. He stated, “If we tour for that long, I’d imagine there will be two albums within that cycle. Because this record’s taken so long to make, we genuinely have a lot of songs, so it could happen relatively quickly. If he wanted to, he could literally release an album of acoustic ballads tomorrow!” A fifth album is anticipated. Additionally, at the bottom of the interview, one can find the 14-song tracklist for Equals.
2. Equals (=) New Music Videos
What pairs well with singles? Not wedding rings, not those kinds of “singles.” Music videos! On Sep. 10, not only was the song “Shivers” released, but the accompanying music video was too! Ed’s video for “Bad Habits” has already accumulated 148 million views after less than four months of thriving in the world. In the video, Ed sports a pink suit, glitter eyeshadow, fangs and flies around with a clan of fellow vampires, terrorizing crowds. Moreover, music videos promote fresh costume inspiration. With Halloween nearing, perhaps we will see a rise in those dressing up as “Bad Habits” Sheeran with their partner-in-crime. For now, news of future music videos is to be announced.
3. Equals (=) New Tour?
Talks of a tour have been brewing among Ed and his fans. Ed nor Stuart Camp have confirmed specific dates or venues yet; however, pandemic permitting, there’s bound to be a world tour. As soon as the album is out, one can bet that concert tickets will quickly hit pre-sale. On his previous tours for Multiply and Divide, Ed stopped in nearby Atlanta, Tampa and Miami. Therefore, Ed may be returning to those stadiums in 2022, 2023, or beyond. Consequently, that means the setlist is up in the air too, but according to past setlists, Ed never fails to perform a mix of his classics and new music to appease everyone. In the meantime, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start saving for corresponding merch.
To summarize, “Shivers” has officially been released and Oct. 29 is the prospective date for his new album. To soak in the benefits of being an Ed Sheeran fan in 2021, fans can keep an eye out for other news on Ed’s Instagram @teddysphotos and his Twitter @edsheeran.
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