Artist Playlists
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Ed Sheeran is not your garden variety singer-songwriter: The Englishman plays both a debonair troubadour—as weathered and mature as Van Morrison on the softly rocking "Thinking Out Loud"—and an introspective upstart who raps, beatboxes and strums his way through "You Need Me, I Don't Need You”. It's a winning combination, especially when paired with Sheeran's flair for vivid, heart-on-sleeve storytelling. And he plays well with others, too, serving as a warm, gentle presence on duets with Taylor Swift and Christina Perri and alongside rappers like Lupe Fiasco and Hoodie Allen. - Ed Sheeran's videos match his songs' romantic immediacy. Dreamy settings and images abound, but they're also infused with emotional gravitas: A boxing gym provides the backdrop to an intense courtship (“Shape of You”); a glitzy ballroom dance captures the soul of “Thinking Out Loud”; and a spectacular mountain range is the dramatic setting for rekindling an old flame (“Perfect”).
- The British superstar is (probably) headed to a stadium near you. Gear up for the show by listening to the set list from his Mathematics Tour.
- Ed Sheeran's got a work ethic to match his prodigious talent. Not content with his own run of solo hits, he's generated an impressive range of collaborations and co-writes. From guesting on the bleary-eyed blues of The Weeknd's “Dark Times” to lending his acoustic pop nous to Justin Bieber's “Love Yourself”, he's got more than enough talent to go round.
- At the core of Ed Sheeran’s music is an easiness and positivity that isn’t just pleasant, but encouraging—the friend that shows up with a smile and takes you as you are. “What I love most about Ed Sheeran's music is that it is light and fun, mixed with a little 'Brit grit' to power it up for moving in just about any type of workout,” says Kyle Ardill, Apple Fitness+ Strength and Core trainer. “He skilfully navigates genres like hip-hop, R&B, grime, dancehall, pop—even a little rock ’n’ roll. It hits the right note for getting you going and keeping you going.” In that spirit, here’s an Ed playlist compiled by our Apple Music editors and Fitness+ trainers designed to inject some good vibes and upbeat energy into your workout routine. We switch things up now and then, so if you hear a track you like, add it to your library.
- From the very start of his career, Ed Sheeran has shown an almost preternatural ability to craft romantic ballads. Like all the best love songs, these feel both ultra-personal to the artist and like they could have been written just for you. Sheeran’s most delicate and heartfelt music can transport you back to the first time you ever fell in love or soundtrack the moment you commit to someone forever—just ask the legions of couples around the world who have chosen the singer-songwriter’s music for their first dance. “I know there's a joke about them being wedding songs or whatever, but because people choose them as those moments, it makes the songs immortal,” Sheeran told Apple Music in 2021. “Tomorrow I could be wiped off the face of the planet and not make another song again. But in 70 years’ time, someone is still going to have a memory of one of my songs being something special to them. Which is why I say my songs don't belong to me, they belong to other people.” Here, explore some of the best tracks born of Sheeran’s romantic side, from “Thinking Out Loud” to “Perfect”, “Lego House”, “Kiss Me” and “Photograph”—all available in spatial audio.
- Like many of us, Ed Sheeran does a lot of his very best music listening in the car. So when we asked the record-blitzing singer-songwriter if he’d mind putting together an exclusive playlist, we were thrilled to receive a brand-new, handcrafted, road-ready set. Particularly because the music Ed’s selected is so diverse: You’ll hear irresistible UK rap bops from artists like Aitch and AJ Tracey nestle up against Mahalia and Khalid’s slinky R&B and breakthrough singer-songwriter magic from Maisie Peters and Lewis Capaldi. It’s an eclecticism present in his bold new album, No.6 Collaborations Project, so buckle up and enjoy the ride.
- The wide-ranging sounds that have inspired this pop chameleon are on display here. His murmured ballads have precursors in the artful restraint and melodic pathos of Joni Mitchell and Damien Rice; Bon Iver's gauzy indie pop reverberates in his muted strums. And Stevie Wonder's jazzy soul and Eminem's rhythmic bravado nod to the hip-hop and R&B cadences that colour so many Sheeran tracks.
- Lean back and relax with some of their mellowest cuts.
- Grab the mic and sing along with some of their biggest hits.
- Zane meets up with Ed Sheeran in New York for a conversation about his new album.