Ed Sheeran has unveiled his new single Azizam - a Persian term of endearment meaning 'my dear' or 'my beloved' - and mixes Persian and Irish folk music on the track.
Sheeran worked on the song with Swedish/Iranian producer Ilya Salmanzadeh (Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith).
"Driven by Ed's relentless curiosity, they soon realised how much Persian and Irish folk music have in common and how only Ed could set those influences in a pop context," says the press release accompanying the single.
"Even though it's completely different to anything that I've ever done before, Azizam feels familiar to me," said Sheeran.
"I wanted to create a party atmosphere in a song and Ilya Salmanzadeh, who I worked with on the track, helped bring that to life. He was so inspiring to work with."
The video for the single sees Sheeran travelling across the US and UK with a pink, heart-shaped balloon.
After Sheeran's Mathematics series of albums and tours, fans have been told that he is entering "a fresh, new phase for 2025" with a new album out this year.
