The album you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived! Ed Sheeran releases his fourth studio album, ‘= (Equals).’

 

In an Instagram post, Ed writes, “= (Equals) is out now. This is my favourite album I’ve made, I’m so proud of it. Thank you to all the wonderful people who worked on it with me. To the fans, I hope you love it as much I do, it’s been a long journey to this point.”

 

 

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A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos)

 

 

Back in August when Ed told fans he would be releasing a new album, he said this would be a ‘coming-of-age record,’ and how the lyrics ‘would delve into life as a married father.’  “‘=’ (Equals) is a really personal record and one that means a lot to me. My life changed greatly over the past few years – I got married, became a father, experienced loss, and I reflect on these topics over the course of the album.  I see it as my coming-of-age record, and I can’t wait to share this next chapter with you,” Ed said in a press release.

 

 

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A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos)


 

To celebrate the release of = (Equals), Ed sat down with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, and revealed the double meaning behind album cover, in which the butterflies represent two major life events – the birth of his daughter and losing his friend, Michael Gudinski, “Both hit me in a way where you appreciate tomorrow more because of each one, if that makes sense.”

 

Ed continues, “In my 20’s there’s a lot of question, in my 30’s there’s a lot of answers, so the butterflies were essentially from a chrysalis, new life. It came to me one day, I don’t know why, but I have a lot of things come to me when I go running and I think it’s because your creative side of your brain sort of opens when you have nothing else to focus on.”

 

 

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A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos)


 

And why the title = (Equals)? As Ed explains, “I saw the symbol ‘equals.’ An equals symbol is the end of a question and the start of an answer, it’s in the middle of the two. I definitely feel like being 30 I’m on either sides.”

 

 

 

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A post shared by Ed Sheeran (@teddysphotos)


 

Listen to = (Equals) below.

 

Filed under: Ed Sheeran