In some sad news overnight, Ed Sheeran shared a moving post on his Instagram page to not only announce his new album ‘Subtract’ (-) but to also give us an insight into his life recently and what has inspired the music.
Ed said he had written hundreds of songs and planned the album out when a series of events changed him saying, “Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth. My best friend Jamal, a brother to me, died suddenly, and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety. I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air…”
Ed Sheeran Chats With Carrie and Tommy
Ed hasn’t given an update on wife Cherry’s diagnosis of her tumour but did say “As an artist I didn’t feel like I could credibly put a body of work into the world that didn’t accurately represent where I am and how I need to express myself at this point in my life. This album is purely that. It’s opening the trapdoor into my soul. For the first time, I’m not trying to craft an album people will like, I’m merely putting something out that’s honest and true to where I am in my adult life.”
This is truly going to be such an emotional project for Ed and we can’t wait to share that journey with him.
Subtract will arrive on May 5.
Find out what Ed is doing to honor his mentor’s memory here.