Ed Sheeran has said his newly announced album = (Equals) is the "best bit of work" he has done.
Speaking to fans during an Instagram Live session, he announced it will be released on 29 October and also spoke about the symbolism behind the new album.
He said he painted part of the cover during lockdown, with a friend then helping him design the cover.
Referencing a teaser Instagram post from Wednesday, he said: "You will have seen the little chrysalis cocoon that is on there. Basically, the symbolism behind the album is sort of new life.
"I've been through, over the last sort of four years, different experiences in life, including... getting married, having a kid, losing a friend, and I just felt like the butterfly symbolism fit in with that.
"There's 14 songs on the album. It's been a kind of painstaking process, cutting it down to 14 songs.
"I started with quite a lot, but they all have their place and I love it. I think it's the best bit of work that I've done, and it's cohesive, and it feels great."
After the Instagram Live session, he performed new song Visiting Hours, which he debuted earlier this year at a memorial for his friend and mentor Michael Gudinski.
Source: Press Association
