Ed Sheeran returns to joy, light and love in 'Azizam'

Ed Sheeran unveils a vibrant new single, "Azizam" — a Persian term of endearment meaning "my dear" or "my beloved." The track marks a bold return to joy, light, love, and celebration, embracing cross-cultural sounds in a euphoric pop anthem.

Azizam began as a meeting of minds in the studio with Swedish-Iranian producer Ilya Salmanzadeh, known for his work with Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, Ellie Goulding, and Sam Smith.

The track marks Ed Sheeran’s bold return to joy, light, love and celebration. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/PETROS STUDIO

Driven by Sheeran's relentless curiosity, they soon realized how much Persian and Irish folk music have in common and how only Sheeran could set those influences in a pop context.

The result is a hedonistic, technicolor anthem that calls listeners to live fully "in between the dancing lights" until sunrise. A celebration of cross-cultural collaborations brought to life, this rhythmic pop song is about the universality of emotion.

"Even though it's completely different to anything that I've ever done before, Azizam feels familiar to me," said Sheeran of the release. "I wanted to create a party atmosphere in a song and Ilya Salmanzadeh, who I worked with on the track, helped bring that to life. He was so inspiring to work with."

In the video accompanying the single release, Sheeran embarks on a journey across the US and UK with a pink, heart-shaped balloon in tow. He takes in the sights of New York from an iconic yellow taxi, cruises through Los Angeles in a classic open-top car, and braves the elements in rural Massachusetts. Along the way, he leads a street party in New Orleans and makes stops in Boston and Nashville. Of course, no trip would be complete without a visit to Ipswich — home to Sheeran's beloved football club.

After closing the chapter on his Mathematics era, Sheeran is finally back and stepping boldly into a fresh new phase for 2025. An artist who has continuously pushed himself, and his craft, into new territory, Sheeran has collaborated with producers and writers from across the globe on his upcoming album, which promises to be one of the year's defining pop records.