Ed Sheeran has announced his new album, ‘-‘ which is pronounced Subtract. The album is due to be released 5th May 2023. The album will be the final instalment of his mathematical album era, which has lasted a decade. This album follows on from his previous mathematical album names, + (2011), x (2014), ÷ (2017) and = (2021).
Ed Sheeran took to social media to announce his upcoming album and its soon-to-come release date. His caption to the announcement was a heartfelt statement explaining life changing events which has happened in his personal life, which contributed to his music making for this album. Sheeran wrote,
“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 decade’s worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts. Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, 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.”
He continued, “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 didn’t feel like I could credibly put a body of work into the world that didn’t accurately represent where I am and how I need to express myself at this point in my life. This album is purely that. It’s opening the trapdoor into my soul. For the first time I’m not trying to craft an album people will like, I’m merely putting something out that’s honest and true to where I am in my adult life. This is last February’s diary entry and my way of making sense of it. This is Subtract.”
During the announcement for his upcoming album, Sheeran revealed the heartbreak he endured when his childhood sweetheart, Cherry Seaborn, was diagnosed with a tumour during her second pregnancy. The pair got married in 2019 and have two daughters together, Lyra and Jupiter. Sheeran also lost a very close friend last year, Jamal Edwards, who died of a heart attack after consuming Cocaine and drinking alcohol.
After the heartbreak of loosing his friend, the singer faced a three-week copyright trial over claims of plagiarism for his number one hit, ”Shape of you.” The album is expected to be a tear-jerker and an insight into the heartbreak Sheeran has suffered recently. Ed Sheeran was supported within the writing and producing process for this album by Aaron Dessner from American rock band, The Nationals. Subtract will consist of 14 tracks, with folk, orchestral and pop qualities.
‘-‘ (Subtract) Tracklist:
- Boat
- Salt Water
- Eyes Closed
- Life Goes On
- Dusty
- End Of Youth
- Colourblind
- Curtains
- Borderline
- Spark
- Vega
- Sycamore
- No Strings
- The Hills of Aberfeldy
To pre-order Ed Sheeran’s new album, click here.
