Global pop icon Ed Sheeran is set to release his much-anticipated album Play in September 2025, and it promises to be one of his most experimental and culturally rich projects to date. Breaking new ground, Sheeran’s Play draws inspiration from Persian and Indian musical traditions, blending his signature acoustic pop with exotic rhythms, classical motifs, and cross-cultural instrumentation.
A Global Soundscape
Following the success of his mathematical series albums (such as Divide and Equals), Play marks a distinct departure in tone and texture. The album features collaborations with artists and producers from Iran and India, including sitar maestro Niladri Kumar and Iranian vocalist Mahsa Vahdat. The soundscape is filled with Persian daf drums, Indian tabla beats, Santoor flourishes, and rich orchestral arrangements that infuse Sheeran’s lyrical intimacy with mystical depth.
“Music has no borders,” Sheeran said in a recent interview. “This album was about opening myself up to cultures I’ve always admired but never truly explored in my own sound. It’s a love letter to the universality of rhythm and melody.”
Standout Tracks
One of the early fan favorites, “Rumi’s Dance”, layers Sheeran’s soft vocals over a flowing Persian melody inspired by traditional Sufi poetry, while “Jaane Jaan”, a duet with Indian playback singer Shreya Ghoshal, blends Hindi lyrics and Western acoustic pop in a seamless fusion. The track “Delhi Nights” is a percussive standout, combining electronic loops with live tabla and bansuri (Indian flute), evoking the vibrant energy of Indian street music.
Another track, “Zar”, is performed partially in Farsi, a first for Sheeran, and explores themes of fate and longing. The song’s name, meaning “gold” in Persian, reflects both the sonic richness and emotional warmth that characterize the album.
A Cultural Collaboration
Sheeran has always embraced collaboration, but Play takes that ethos to a new level. He reportedly spent several weeks in Mumbai and Tehran working closely with local musicians, immersing himself in regional scales, ragas, and poetry. The album’s artwork, featuring miniature painting motifs and calligraphy, pays homage to Indo-Persian artistic traditions.
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Producers like A.R. Rahman, British-Iranian artist Sami Yusuf, and long-time Sheeran collaborator Johnny McDaid helped shape the cross-cultural aesthetic, ensuring authenticity while maintaining Sheeran’s melodic core.
Anticipation Builds
Fans and critics alike are buzzing about Play, hailing it as Sheeran’s boldest artistic risk yet. Music journalist Anika Shah of The Times called the album “a sincere and stylish convergence of East and West,” noting that it may “open new pathways for mainstream pop artists seeking global inspiration.”
Set for release on September 20, Play is expected to debut with a limited series of live performances in culturally significant venues, including a concert at the historic Golestan Palace in Tehran and a collaborative set at Mumbai’s Mehboob Studios.
With Play, Ed Sheeran may have just redefined the possibilities of pop – by listening deeply to the music of the world.