Ed Sheeran announces his next album “Play” and releases “Old Phone,” a moving new single out now.
Ed Sheeran is back with a new single, “Old Phone,” and the announcement of his highly awaited album Play, due September 12 via Gingerbread Man Records/Atlantic Records. The release signals a fresh creative era following the conclusion of his Mathematics series.
Inspired by musical cultures from India, Persia, and his own Irish folk roots, Play finds Sheeran diving into collaborative and cross-cultural creativity. “I made this record all over the world, finished it in Goa, India,” Sheeran shared. “It’s a real rollercoaster of emotions… it encapsulates everything I love about music, and where I am in life as a human, a partner, a father.”
The first taste of the album, “Old Phone,” was produced by Blake Slatkin and Ilya Salmanzadeh and features Sheeran revisiting his past through messages found on an unused phone from 2015. The track merges classic acoustic textures with raw emotional themes, channeling nostalgia and personal growth.
Sheeran launched the @teddysoldphone Instagram account to tease the single, featuring archived images from the real phone. He’s also performed the song in spontaneous settings, including during a couch session on The Tonight Show and a duet with Noah Kahan at Santa’s Pub in Nashville.
With Play, Sheeran continues to redefine pop with authenticity, global influence, and playful spirit. Pre-orders are available now.
