By now, we’re all familiar with Ed Sheeran, the Grammy-winning phenomenon whose fresh take on pop songwriting and lyrical authenticity has made him a household name. Recently, he shared insights into his creative process and his upcoming projects during an appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon.
Sheeran did this to showcase his authenticity and understanding of what appeals to listeners. He believes that “all of the best songs are written within a three-hour period,” a method he has refined over his successful career. That’s an approach that’s served him beautifully. He’s the artist behind the chart-topping hit “Shape of You,” which he famously wrote eight of in one day.
To get inspired, Sheeran sometimes takes on unusual forms. Most notably, he donned the gothic getup to busk in a NYC subway with Fallon. He stepped out on stage as “Frat Poison,” and treated the crowd to a cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club.” After introducing himself, he treated us all to an enthusiastic performance of his latest single “Azizam,” which he dropped on April 4th.
Benny Blanco, a producer and frequent Sheeran collaborator, expressed his awe at Sheeran’s God-like gift of impeccable music-crafting on the first try. He said, “He goes to the studio and does not come out of the studio until he finishes three songs per day. It’s insane.” Blanco had to agree, “Bro’s relatability is probably what makes him so awesome. I’m in the same boat—we’re just normal dudes who weren’t supposed to make it, but here we are.”
Sheeran’s songwriting process is not purely spontaneous. It uses math. He explained that his approach involves the principles of “Plus, Multiply, Divide, Subtract, Equals, and then Play, Pause, Fast Forward, Rewind and Stop.” It’s this unprecedented methodology that gives him the magic touch to make deeply personal and broadly relatable music.
Blanco praised Sheeran’s lyrical talent. He noted, “He sings lyrics that we say every day, but no one ever strung them together into a song like that.” It’s that ability to connect with the kind of everyday experiences which is core to Sheeran’s mass appeal.
Sheeran announced last week that his next album would be called “Play.” He revealed that the album will be the first of five, all of which will be connected. His relentless work ethic, musical creativity, and artistic integrity has made him a favorite among fans and industry members for many years.