Ed Sheeran's new album will tell the heartbreaking struggles he went through, Aaron Dessner revealed.
Dessner, The National guitarist, collaborated and worked with Sheeran in the latter's upcoming album, "-" (Subtract). He helped him in writing and producing the songs for the music project.
Sheeran's upcoming album will serve as the last installment of his notable mathematical album era, following 2011's "+," 2014's "x," 2017's "÷," and 2021's "=."
In a new Instagram post, the guitarist shared how he and the "Photograph" hitmaker met and how it led them to create the album. According to Dessner, he was introduced to Sheeran through Taylor Swift when the two top singers recorded their song, "Run."
The guitarist recalled how they met up in New York City to talk about music and life. Although they had not known each other for a long time yet at that time, he reportedly felt relaxed while talking to Sheeran.
Only a few months later, Sheeran started sharing what he had made so far, with Dessner saying that those were inspired by the issues and struggles he went through in life.
"A few months later, in the winter of 2021, he started writing to them and sending sometimes multiple song ideas a day, inspired by a very difficult period he was going through in his life," he went on. "I could really empathize with what he was feeling and was eager to help realize these songs."
They soon met at the beginning of 2022 and finished creating over 30 songs in a week. Fourteen of those tracks made it to Sheeran's sixth album, "-" (Subtract).
He concluded the post by thanking the "Shape of You" hitmaker for trusting him to help him on his music-making journey.
Ed Sheeran's New Album
Dessner's post resonated with what Sheeran said in his announcement to confirm the arrival of his new album.
Per the singer, he had been working on "Subtract" for a decade as he wanted to have the perfect acoustic album. Then at the start of 2022, his view on music and art changed due to the series of events in his life and mental health.
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Amid those struggles, the "Thinking Out Loud" singer assured his fans that writing songs have been of great help as the process becomes his therapy.
"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. This is last February's diary entry and my way of making sense of it. This is Subtract," he went on.
Ed Sheeran will release his new album on May 5 via Atlantic Records.
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