An album that revisits Ed’s singer/songwriter roots, and one that was written against a backdrop of personal grief and hope, ‘-’ (Subtract) presents one of the biggest stars on the planet at his most vulnerable and honest.

Track Listings
Side: 1
1 : Tides
2 : Shivers
3 : First Times
4 : Bad Habits
5 : Overpass Graffiti
6 : The Joker And The Queen
7 : Leave Your Life

Side: 2
1 : Collide
2 : 2step
3 : Stop The Rain
4 : Love In Slow Motion
5 : Visiting Hours
6 : Sandman
7 : Be Right Now

‘=’ - the fourth instalment in Sheeran’s symbol album series – is Ed’s most accomplished work yet; the evolution of an artist who continues to tread new ground. A body of songs that were made over a four-year period following his seminal ‘÷’ (Divide) album era, thematically, ‘=’ finds Ed taking stock 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’). Sonically, ‘=’ encapsulates Ed’s versatile musical palette, spanning signature, guitar-led tracks and world-class balladry to weightier, euphoric production moments, as first showcased on the album’s lead single ‘Bad Habits,’ released earlier this summer.

= seamlessly captures both the intimate and every day; elevating universal experiences to a higher plane as reflected by ‘Visiting Hours’ – a track that finds Ed coming to terms with the loss of his mentor and friend, Michael Gudinski, and written shortly after his passing: “I wish that heaven had visiting hours / So I can just swing by and ask your advice”. Performed for the first time at Michael’s State Memorial in March, the poignant track, which is joined by a stripped performance video, features backing vocals from Michael’s close friends, Kylie Minogue and Jimmy Barnes.

Written and recorded across Suffolk, London, Sweden and LA, the album’s executive production comes from 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 stunning string arrangements on ‘First Times’ and ‘The Joker And The Queen’. The album artwork is a vivid collage of butterfly imagery symbolizing the albums’ thread of ‘new life’ and is backdropped by one of Ed’s own abstract paintings.

Ed Sheeran will release his new album '-' (Subtract) on 5 May 2023 - the latest in his decade-spanning Mathematic-themed album series. An album that revisits Ed Sheeran's singer songwriter roots and was written on a backdrop of personal grief and hope, '-' (Subtract) showcases one of the biggest stars on the planet at his most vulnerable and honest.

Since learning to play 'Layla' by Eric Clapton on guitar at the age of 12, Ed Sheeran has had a deep love for the singer songwriter genre. With artists like Damien Rice, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, who his father John introduced him to, being played on repeat at his parents' house, was - always on Ed's horizon. However, the songs and writing process took on a whole new meaning and direction after a series of hard events impacted Ed's world in 2022. But one thing that remained untouched was his strong desire to make an album rooted in his love of singer songwriter compositions. And as he prepares to release his most soulful work to date, '-' (Subtract) serves as a reminder of why Ed remains one of the most talented songwriters of his generation; an artist who breaks down his own experiences for fans to seek solace and belonging.

Ed narrates:

"I had been working on Subtract for a decade, trying to sculpt the perfect acoustic album, writing and recording hundreds of songs with a clear vision of what I thought it should be. Then at the start of 2022, a series of events changed my life, my mental health, and ultimately the way I viewed music and art. Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings. I wrote without thought of what the songs would be, I just wrote whatever tumbled out. And in just over a week, I replaced a decades worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts.

Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumor, 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 spiraling 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.

As an artist I didnt feel like I could credibly put a body of work into the world that didnt accurately represent where I am and how I need to express myself at this point in my life. This album is purely that. Its opening the trapdoor into my soul. For the first time Im not trying to craft an album people will like, Im merely putting something out thats honest and true to where I am in my adult life.

This is last Februarys diary entry and my way of making sense of it. This is Subtract."

'-' (Subtract) is the result of a boundary-pushing Ed delivering the most profound songwriting of his career. The album was compiled last February in collaboration with Aaron Dessner (The National) on songwriting and production, after the two were introduced to each other through mutual friend, Taylor Swift. Having written over 30 songs during their month-long studio stay, the album's fourteen songs are carefully tied together by a grand production that ranges from bare, folk-inspired compositions to larger, full-band/orchestral arrangements.

Ed Sheeran broke onto the UK music scene in 2011 with his debut album '+' (Plus). He quickly established himself as a history-making artist and followed up with 'x' (Multiply), '÷' (Divide), 'No.6 Collaborations Project' and '=' (Equals) - a catalogue that has made Ed Sheeran one of the world's biggest musical successes of the 21st century.

Track list
Boat
Salt Water
Eyes Closed
Life Goes on
Dusty
End of Youth
Colourblind
Curtains
Borderline
Spark
Vega
Sycamore
No Strings
The Hills of Aberfeldy
Wildflowers (BONUS)
Stoned (BONUS)
Toughest (BONUS)
Moving (BONUS

Track Listings

Disc 1

1. Opening
2. Sapphire
3. Azizam
4. Old Phone
5. Symmetry
6. Camera
7. In Other Words
8. A Little More
9. Slowly
10. Don't Look Down
11. The Vow
12. For Always
13. Heaven
14. Problems
15. Wargame

Track list
Beautiful People Feat. Khalid
South of the Border Feat. Camila Cabello & Cardi B
Cross Me Feat. Chance the Rapper and Pnb Rock
Take Me Back to London Feat. Stormzy
Best Part of Me Feat. Yebba
I Don't Care with Justin Bieber
Antisocial with Travis Scott
Remember the Name Feat. Eminem & 50 Cent
Feels Feat. Young Thug & J Hus
Put It All on Me Feat. Ella Mai
Nothing on You Feat. Paulo Londra & Dave
I Don't Want Your Money Feat. H.e.r
1000 Nights Feat. Meek Mill & a Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
Way to Break My Heart Feat. Skrillex
Blow with Bruno Mars & Chris Stapleton