LP Asylum Records (2021) US, CA ‘=' (pronounced ‘Equals') - the fourth instalment in Ed Sheeran's symbol album series – is the singer/songwriter'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." "‘=' (Equals) is a really personal record and one that means a lot to me. My life changed greatly over the past few years – I got married, became a father, experienced loss, and I reflect on these topics over the course of the album. I see it as my coming-of-age record, and I can't wait to share this next chapter with you," Sheeran shares.
