Ed Sheeran returns with personal, introspective and deep single, “Eyes Closed,” and announces the release of his upcoming studio album.
Eyes Closed
“Eyes Closed” is Ed Sheeran’s new album and the first release to give us a look into the English singer’s upcoming album, Subtract.
With the characteristic pop melody that defines Sheeran’s music, “Eyes Closed” maintains the music lines led him to be one of the most streamed artists ever. However, the brutal honesty around the artist’s life following his best friend’s death gives the hit a singularly introspective outlook.
“Eyes Closed” brings us to Ed Sheeran’s daily life of the past few months. Dealing with what seems to be described as alcohol problems due to his loss, the artist narrates the pain of losing a person so close to him. Denial, disillusionment, and the slow realization and facing this sad reality are the keys to the song. “Eyes Closed” also represents the artist’s way to learn how to leave with the awareness of having lost a dear person.
I pictured this year a little bit different when it hit February I step in the bar, it hit me so hard, oh, how can it be this heavy? Every song reminds me you’re gone and I feel thе lump form in my throat ‘Cause I’m here alonе.
Subtract
Ed Sheeran just announced the upcoming release of his fifth “math themed” album, Subtract. With a personal and open-hearted message on his social accounts, the artist dropped the news of the new record.
Discussing mental health, trauma and loss, Sheeran opened up about his struggles with depression and anxiety that made him change a ten-year-work in few weeks.
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 spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety. I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air.
With this self analysis, he mentioned also his relationship with music and songwriting:
“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.
“I had been working on Subtract for a decade, trying to sculpt the perfect acoustic album, writing and recording 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.”
Subtract will come out on 5th May 2023. Find more information about the long-awaited record here.
