Ed Sheeran and a trusty pink, heart-shaped balloon smile their way through New York, Los Angeles and England in the video for the new single “Azizam,” the lead track from the superstar’s upcoming Atlantic album, Play.
Named after the Persian word for “my dear,” the song was crafted by Sheeran with Swedish/Iranian pop producer Ilya Salmanzadeh after they hit upon the similarities between Persian and Irish folk music. “Even though it’s completely different to anything that I’ve ever done before, ‘Azizam’ feels familiar to me,” Sheeran says. “I wanted to create a party atmosphere in a song and Ilya Salmanzadeh helped bring that to life. He was so inspiring to work with.”
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Sheeran has been teasing “Azizam” with impromptu appearances in New Orleans, Nashville and Ipswich, Ma., where he built a one-off pub in the style of his Suffolk, England, hometown. He also sang with late night host Jimmy Fallon in the New York subway.
Details remain scant on Play, although Atlantic says it will feature “producers and writers from across the globe.”
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