Were he merely enjoying a pint out on a spring-like afternoon, it might not have caused such a stir.
But, clutching his laptop as he left his favourite Soho pub on Wednesday, it appeared Ed Sheeran was on important business – the kind that sends the music world and fans alike into a frenzy.
Speculation has been building formonths about the release of the star’s hotly anticipated next album, which has been shrouded in secrecy.
But the 34-year-old gave a hint that might be ready to share it with the world as, smiling, he left the trendy Devonshire pub after playing it for the first time to a group of record label executives.
Dressed in a £2,500 jacket by ultra-hip London-based streetwear brand Corteiz, he left the venue clutching a wooden board after stunning industry bigwigs with his latest work, which he has named Play.
Sources inside the event told the Mail that there ‘were more than a few bangers,’ adding that it would ‘shoot up the share price’ of the star’s record company, Warner.
Ed Sheeran, 34, was seen looking extremely happy with himself as he left one of his favourite pubs on Wednesday, where he had played his new music in public for the first time
Sheeran has previously spoken of his fondness for The Devonshire, explaining: ‘What I really like about it is that they have a back room and no one’s allowed to take pictures or video’
‘It was all a secret and Ed proudly shared his new music with a select group of big names in the music industry,’ said one.
‘He was so happy, and there are some absolute bangers on the album. It went down a storm, the talk was that it would be as big, if not bigger, than his others.’
Sheeran, who has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the world’s best-selling music artists, has just returned from a tour in South Asia where he performed in six Indian cities and became the first-ever international artist to perform in a Buddhist kingdom at the 23,000-cap Changlimithang Stadium in the country’s capital, Thimphu, on January 24.
He also took his globe trotting – +–=÷× (Mathematics) Tour to a sold out Mumbai show at Mahalaxmi Race Course.
After signing with Asylum Records, his debut album, + (pronounced ‘plus’), was released in September 2011. It topped the UK and Australian charts, reached number five in the US, and has since been certified seven-times platinum in the UK.
Two of his albums are in the list of the best-selling albums in UK chart history: x (at number 20) and ÷ (at number 34).
His previous record, Autumn Variations, topped the chart in October 2023.
Sheeran, who is married to childhood sweetheart Cherry Seaborn with whom he has two daughters Lyra and Jupitar, himself seemed to give the title away after he responded to a social media which noted that Sheeran had changed his profile picture in anticipation of a musical return.
‘Ed Sheeran recently changed his profile picture guys! What math is he gonna do next?’ a fan wrote.
Dressed in a £2,500 jacket by designer Corteiz, he left the venue clutching a wooden board after stunning industry bigwigs with his latest work, which he has named Play
Sources inside the event told the Mail that there ‘were more than a few bangers,’ adding that it would ‘shoot up the share price’ of the star’s record company, Warner (pictured in 2023)
This referred to the Sheeran’s Mathematics album series, which included five studio records: + (2011), x (2014), ÷ (2017), = (2021) and – (2023).
In response, Sheeran wrote: ‘Irony is if you ask me anything maths related I would fail the question, I never finished high school.’ He then signed off by appearing to reveal the title of his next LP. ‘Play coming soon though,’ he added.
Sheeran has previously spoken of his fondness for The Devonshire, which also operates as a traditional pub.
He said: ‘What I really like about it is that they have a back room that they do tradfolk jams in, and no one’s allowed to take pictures or video. So, you can just go in there and get as slaughtered as you want.’
