Author: Warner PR

PARAMORE “AFTER LAUGHTER” – NEW ALBUM, OUT MAY 12TH

Album Pre-orders Begin Today, April 19 2017 With Instant Grat Of First Single “HARD TIMES”

European Headline Tour Begins This June & Opens in Dublin!!

Fueled By Ramen recording group Paramore has announced the eagerly awaited release of their fifth studio album. AFTER LAUGHTER will arrive everywhere on Friday, May 12th. The GRAMMY Award-winning band’s first new album in more than four years, AFTER LAUGHTER, is available for pre-order beginning today and accompanied by an instant grat download of the just unveiled new single, Hard Times. The video for Hard Times, directed by Andrew Joffe, premieres today exclusively on Fueled By Ramen’s official YouTube channel.

AFTER LAUGHTER was recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio B – Paramore’s first time recording in their own beloved hometown. The album is produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen and Paramore’s own Taylor York. “AFTER LAUGHTER” also marks the return of original member Zac Farro to the band.

TRACK LISTING
1. Hard Times
2. Rose-Colored Boy
3. Told You So
4. Forgiveness
5. Fake Happy
6. 26
7. Pool
8. Grudges
9. Caught In The Middle
10. Idle Worship
11. No Friend
12. Tell Me How

Long regarded as an exhilarating live act, Paramore has spent much of the past decade-plus on the road, with highlights including sold out headline arena tours and show-stealing festival sets around the globe. Paramore has consistently drawn both critical acclaim as well as a wide ranging list of international honours and accolades, now including a GRAMMY® Award, two People’s Choice Awards, three NME Awards, three MTV Video Music Award nominations, and much much more.

Paramore will kick off a European headline tour this June, UK dates are as follows.
Tickets go on sale April 28th, and for more news, ticket links and prices please visit paramore.net.

‪15 JUN‪ Dublin, Ireland @ Olympia
16 JUN Belfast, United Kingdom @ Waterfront
18 JUN Manchester, United Kingdom @ O2 Apollo
19 JUN London, United Kingdom @ Royal Albert Hall
21 JUN Bristol, United Kingdom @ Colston Hall
22 JUN Edinburgh, United Kingdom @ Usher Hall

For more information please contact ciaran.savage@warnermusic.com or visit Paramore.net

Their previous self-titled album “PARAMORE” made a chart topping debut atop the SoundScan/Billboard 200 upon its April 2013 release marking Paramore’s first #1 album to date – and also scoring an array of #1 debuts around the globe. “PARAMORE” showcased a string of blockbuster singles including two 2x RIAA platinum-certified hits, the top 10 “Still Into You” and the #1 smash, “Ain’t It Fun.” The latter track proved Paramore’s biggest single to date, ascending to #1 at Hot AC and Rock radio outlets nationwide, #2 at Top 40, as well as to the top 10 on Billboard’s “Hot 100” – the band’s first ever top 10 hit on the overall chart and their highest peaking song thus far.

ROYAL BLOOD 2nd ALBUM ‘HOW DID WE GET SO DARK?’
TO BE RELEASED JUNE 16TH ON WARNER BROS. RECORDS

Lead single ‘Lights Out’ is available now!

After becoming the biggest breaking British rock band with their self-titled 2014 debut album, Royal Blood’s eagerly anticipated second album ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’ will be released on June 16th on Warner Bros. Records. The album’s lead single ‘Lights Out’ is now available.

Royal Blood’s breakthrough was huge. Their debut album was the fastest-selling British rock debut in three years, hitting #1 in Ireland & the UK, going Top 20 in twelve countries, and selling over a million copies. Before they knew it they were performing for Howard Stern, touring with Foo Fighters, holding dressing room audiences with Jimmy Page in New York, and being presented with a BRIT for Best British Band in 2015 by the very same guitar god. Their ascendency was further underlined with major awards courtesy of Kerrang!, NME and Q.

The ten tracks that feature on ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’ were written in instrumental form during sessions in Brighton, Hollywood, Los Angeles and Nashville. Always trying to explore ways of stripping their enormous sound back to give it more space and impact, inspiration for the lyrics came from events in vocalist/bassist Mike Kerr’s life since the band first found huge success.

In November 2016. Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher, along with producer Jolyon Thomas, spent six weeks in a studio in Brussels that was decked out like a New York diner and featured a warehouse of antique gear. ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’ was subsequently completed after a final session in London with their debut album’s co-producer Tom Dalgety.

The album’s first single ‘Lights Out’ ups the ante from their debut with a wrecking ball of a groove cemented by Thatcher’s thunderous rhythms, while Kerr wrangles the twisted invention of his bass riffs to a whole new level. Their patented two-man artillery of carefully constructed melodic aggression is prevalent throughout, especially in ‘I Only Lie When I Love You’ which is a compelling cowbell-assisted reminder of the power of a stop-start riff and a strident chorus. There are times where Royal Blood are more visceral than ever – notably the gargantuan introduction to ‘Hook, Line & Sinker’ and also the intense denouement that brings ‘Looks Like You Know’ to a close.

While the album finds Royal Blood refining their melodic might, there are other moments that fulfil their aim to create songs that will add new dimensions to their live sets. Adorned with Kerr’s falsetto, ‘Don’t Tell’ drops the intensity to mesmerising effect, while ‘Where Are You Now?’ pulsates with a bounding energy that’s quite a step apart from anything else in their catalogue. The Royal Blood palette is also expanded with the complementary addition of piano or keyboards on four tracks, including the foreboding album closer ‘Sleep’.

‘How Did We Get So Dark?’ will be released on digital, CD and vinyl formats. The Warner Music Shop will retail a signed version of the standard vinyl, while a coloured vinyl will also be available from specialist independent retailers. Also available are a super deluxe vinyl set and a cassette. Pre-orders are now open, and all fans who pre-order the album will receive an instant download of ‘Lights Out’.

Royal Blood’s summer festival touring commences at Slane Castle where they are the main opening act for Guns n Roses performing in front of 80,000 people!
Their touring will continue when they’ll perform at The Governors Ball in New York City in June and concludes with both legs of Japan’s Summer Sonic Festival in August. In the UK, they’re confirmed to play Glastonbury and will headline the Eden Sessions on June 22nd.

The tracklisting for ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’ is:

1. How Did We Get So Dark?
2. Lights Out
3. I Only Lie When I Love You
4. She’s Creeping
5. Looks Like You Know
6. Where Are You Now?
7. Don’t Tell
8. Hook, Line & Sinker
9. Hole In Your Heart
10. Sleep

FLEET FOXES ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM ‘CRACK-UP’ OUT JUNE 16, 2017 VIA NONESUCH RECORDS

Watch A lyric video for ‘Third of May / Ōdaigahara’
(Created by Sean Pecknold & Adi Goodrich)

On June 16, Fleet Foxes will release Crack-Up (Nonesuch Records), its long awaited and highly anticipated third album. Crack-Up comes six years after the 2011 release of Helplessness Blues and nearly a decade since the band’s 2008 self-titled debut. Fleet Foxes has released the album track ‘Third of May / Ōdaigahara’, a nearly nine-minute epic powered by piano and electric twelve-string guitar, string quartet, and the group’s trademark sparkling harmonies. In addition, the band has announced new tour dates, including their first North American shows since October 2011.
Crack-Up pre-orders are available now from iTunes ; where ‘Third of May / Ōdaigahara’ may be downloaded instantly.

All eleven of the songs on Crack-Up were written by Robin Pecknold. The album was co-produced by Pecknold and Skyler Skjelset, his long-time bandmate, collaborator, and childhood friend. Crack-Up was recorded at various locations across the United States between July 2016 and January 2017: at Electric Lady Studios, Sear Sound, The Void, Rare Book Room, Avast, and The Unknown. Phil Ek mixed the album, at Sear Sound, and it was mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound. Fleet Foxes is Robin Pecknold (vocals, multi-instrumentalist), Skyler Skjelset (multi-instrumentalist, vocals), Casey Wescott (multi-instrumentalist, vocals), Christian Wargo (multi-instrumentalist, vocals), and Morgan Henderson (multi-instrumentalist).

Fleet Foxes’ self-titled debut made a profound impact on the international musical landscape, earning them Uncut’s first ever Music Award Prize, and topping numerous ‘Best of’ lists, including Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Albums of the 2000’s and Pitchfork’s 50 Best Albums of 2008. Fleet Foxes is certified Gold in North America and Platinum in Ireland, UK and Australia. The follow-up album Helplessness Blues was met with the same critical praise as its predecessor (Mojo five stars, Rolling Stone four stars, Pitchfork Best New Music); that album debuted at No.4 on the Billboard Top 200, went Gold in the UK, and earned the band a GRAMMY nomination.

Fleet Foxes make a welcome return to Ireland for two dates at Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens: Thursday July 13th, limited amount of tix are still available and Friday July 14th is sold-out.

TRACKLIST
1. I Am All That I Need / Arroyo Seco / Thumbprint Scar
2. Cassius, –
3. – Naiads, Cassadies
4. Kept Woman
5. Third of May / Ōdaigahara
6. If You Need To, Keep Time on Me
7. Mearcstapa
8. On Another Ocean (January / June)
9. Fool’s Errand
10. I Should See Memphis
11. Crack-Up

FLEET FOXES
Website Facebook Instagram

Fleet Foxes 2017 International Tour Dates
May 26 | Sydney, Australia at Sydney Opera House
May 27 | Sydney, Australia at Sydney Opera House
May 28 | Sydney, Australia at Sydney Opera House
May 29 | Sydney, Australia at Sydney Opera House
July 1 | Spain, Vilanova i la Geltrú at Vida Festival
July 3 | Italy, Ferrara at Bands Apart
July 7 | Spain, Bilbao at Bilbao BBK Live
July 13 | Ireland, Dublin at The Iveagh Gardens
July 14 | Ireland, Dublin at The Iveagh Gardens (SOLD OUT)
July 16 | United Kingdom, Southwold at Latitude Festival
July 27 | Portland ME at Thompson’s Point
July 28 | Newport RI at Newport Folk Festival (SOLD OUT)
July 29 | Columbia MD at Merriweather Post Pavilion w/ Animal Collective
July 31 | Philadelphia PA at Mann Center for the Performing Arts w/ Animal Collective
August 1 | Brooklyn NY at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival at the Prospect Park Bandshell
August 4 | Toronto ON at Massey Hall
August 6 | Detroit MI at The Masonic
September 23 | Los Angeles CA at Hollywood Bowl w/ Beach House
September 27 | Morrison CO at Red Rocks Amphitheatre w/ Beach House

The day has come! Worldwide superstar Ed Sheeran’s hugely anticipated new album ÷ (pronounced “divide”) is OUT TODAY! To celebrate the release, Warner Music have featured lyrics from a track on Ed’s album somewhere in Galway…. Fans just have to follow the coordinates and steps listed here http://www.edsheeran.com/dividelyricsie to find out the location. Upload a pic a themselves with the lyrics and the #DivideLyricsIE to their socials to be in with a chance to win tickets and a meet and greet with Ed in April!! Competition closes March 10th!

÷ (pronounced “divide”) – Ed’s third studio album – is to become one of the most significant global album releases of 2017 and sees the 25-year-old Suffolk native in his finest form yet. The genre-defying LP is the result of an artist who consistently pushes himself in new directions, uncovering fresh musical ground using a seemingly limitless musical vocabulary. Drawing inspiration from a host of personal experiences and subjects, Ed takes you through a hugely personal journey; be that reflecting on past relationships, family memories, his musical career or his time off travelling the world in 2016. Musically ÷ is an array of beautifully orchestrated and emotive ballads, impassioned raps laid over hip hop beats, timeless acoustic guitar masterpieces and innovative, idiosyncratic pop music. Ed’s record-breaking dual comeback singles perfectly highlight one of the distinct divides in his musical spectrum with “Castle On The Hill” (an ode to his hometown of Framlingham, Suffolk) positioning itself towards a stadium-ready, rockier sound and “Shape Of You” dismantling and rebuilding modern-pop using little more than a loop pedal. Irish fans can also expect a special nod with tracks ‘Galway Girl’ and ‘Nancy Mulligans’* – a testament to the special relationship Ed has with Eire.

÷ will reveal everything in-between whilst showcasing Ed’s impeccable guitar playing, peerless lyricism, boundless musical palate and jarringly-honest, and often autobiographical, storytelling – some of the reasons this much-loved talent has built an undeniably loyal following across the globe. Executively produced by Benny Blanco (Rihanna, The Weeknd) and Ed himself with further production coming from Johnny McDaid, Mike Elizondo and Steve Mac, the album was recorded between LA, London, Suffolk and RMS Queen Mary 2. Hugely representative of modern times, both sonically and topically, ÷ reaffirms Ed as one of the world’s most forward-thinking and versatile troubadours. Furthermore, Ed created the album artwork concept, even painting the cover himself!

‘÷’ follows Ed’s previous record-breaking, multimillion-selling albums ‘x’ (pronounced “multiply” – 2014) and ‘+’ (pronounced “plus” – 2011). Spawning Ed’s first-ever Ivor Novello win in 2011 with “The A Team” winning ‘Best Song Musically and Lyrically’, ‘+’ has now sold over 9 million albums worldwide and is 14 x platinum in Ireland alone. His follow-up multi award-winning album ‘x’ has gone onto become one of the most significant and record-breaking albums of this millennium. It was officially named one of the biggest-selling albums of all time by the Official Chart Company last year: it has received over 3.5 BILLION streams to date.

‘÷’ TRACKLISTING
1. Eraser
2. Castle On The Hill
3. Dive
4. Shape Of You
5. Perfect
6. Galway Girl
7. Happier
8. New Man
9. Hearts Don’t Break Around Here
10. What Do I Know?
11. How Would You Feel (Paean)
12. Supermarket Flowers
*Deluxe
13. Barcelona
14. Bibia Be Ye Ye
15. Nancy Mulligan
16. Save Myself

JAMES BLUNT WILL RELEASE A BRAND NEW ALBUM ‘THE AFTERLOVE’ ON MARCH 24^TH

Britain’s very own Twitter all-star is back… James Blunt will release his 5th studio album, ‘The Afterlove’ on March 24th through Atlantic Records. The new album is the follow-up to ‘Moon Landing’, which reached platinum status in the UK, spent 33 weeks in the UK Top 40 and has sold over 1.2 million sales worldwide since its release in 2013.

James worked with a wide range of talent when writing and recording ‘The Afterlove’ including Ed Sheeran, Ryan Tedder, Amy Wadge (Ed Sheeran, Shannon Saunders), Johnny McDaid (Example, Biffy Clyro), Stephan Moccio (Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd) and MoZella (Miley Cyrus, One Direction).

James Blunt will also be embarking on a UK headline tour, The Afterlove Tour, which includes a date at London’s Eventim Apollo. This is the first tour for James following his extensive Moon Landing Tour, which saw him perform over 140 shows across the world over the course of twelve months which started in Dublin’s Vicar Street Feb 2014 and also saw him play 3Arena in Nov 2014

James Blunt has sold over 20 million albums worldwide and 12.8 million singles. He’s also amassed over 625 million views on YouTube and over 680 million global streams on streaming platforms.

ED SHEERAN
3Arena, Dublin
12th & 13th April 2017

ED CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE CHARTS WORLDWIDE WITH “SHAPE OF YOU” & “CASTLE ON THE HILL” (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

÷ (DIVIDE) OUT ON 3RD MARCH 2017

Set to be one of the most highly-anticipated tours of 2017, Ed Sheeran has announced an array of tour dates for the UK, Ireland, Europe. The tour will kick-off in Italy on March 17 and Ed will play 3Arena Dublin for two nights on 12th & 13th April, marking his first shows in Ireland since his two sold out dates at Croke Park in 2015. Tickets go on sale on Thursday 2nd February at 10am from Ticketmaster and Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.

The touring news comes straight off the back of a phenomenal few weeks for 25-year-old Ed Sheeran. Kicking-off music in 2017 and delivering the biggest musical comeback in recent years, Ed’s dual singles “Shape Of You” and “Castle On The Hill” have taken the globe by storm, hitting the #1 and #2 spots across the charts worldwide while seeing the Suffolk native break a magnitude of records along the way. On course to cement his third week at #1 & #2 respectively in the UK’s Official Singles Chart tomorrow [Ed made OCC history as the first-ever artist to land the two spots respectively with two brand new tracks], Ed recently conquered more milestones in the USA after landing his first-ever #1 as a performer on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Shape Of You” – with “Castle On The Hill” sitting closely behind at #6 on the chart, Ed also became the first artist to debut in Billboard’s ‘Top 10’ with two songs simultaneously. Not to mention the huge assortment of Spotify records broken by the troubadour this month, making history with their biggest-ever ‘one week’ and ‘one day’ streams for a track, globally with “Shape Of You” (the records were previously held by Drake’s “One Dance” and Adele’s “Hello”, respectively). Moreover, Ed topped the streaming service’s biggest-ever opening 24 hour streams with both singles, surpassing previous title holders, One Direction. Reaching 132 combined #1 iTunes positions around the world and accomplishing Apple Music’s biggest-ever ‘day’ and ‘one week’ streams, the two singles have accumulated over 370 MILLION worldwide streams to date. Launched on Monday, Ed’s official video for “Castle On The Hill”, which was shot in his native Framlingham, Suffolk, has already reached over 10 million hits!

In addition to Ed’s epic rise with his recorded music, the Suffolk-born artist has also broken records in the live sphere over recent years. In July 2015 Ed took to the stage of Wembley Stadium, solo, becoming the first-ever artist to headline the prestigious venue without a band – with just his trademark loop pedal and guitar – seeing him play to 240,000 people over three consecutive sold-out nights! Securing a very special collaboration with Sir Elton John on the opening night, Ed followed with the release of his live DVD ‘Jumpers for Goalposts’ at the end of 2015, documenting the lead-up and live performances from the Wembley weekend. Moreover, not only has Ed caught the headlines with his phenomenal solo concerts, he’s also been involved in an array of spellbinding collaborative performances over his career to date, further proving his colossal status in the musical world – in 2012, Ed performed at the London Olympics’ closing ceremony alongside members of Pink Floyd and Genesis for a very special version of “Wish You Were Here” and in 2015, Ed shared the stage with Beyonce and Gary Clark Jr. at that year’s Grammy tribute for Stevie Wonder.

Ed Sheeran’s genre-defying third studio album ÷ (divide) will be released on 3rd March through Asylum/Atlantic Records (available to pre-order http://bit.ly/DIVIDESHOP).

Tickets for Ed Sheeran at 3Arena Dublin on 12th & 13th April 2017 go on sale on Thursday 2nd February at 10am and will be available from:

All Ticketmaster outlets Nationwide

24hr Credit Card Bookings 0844 277 4455 (ROI) / 0844 277 4455 (NI)

Book on line www.ticketmaster.ie

ED SHEERAN UNVEILS THE OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “CASTLE ON THE HILL”

“SHAPE OF YOU” & “CASTLE ON THE HILL” REMAIN AT #1 & #2 IN IRELAND’S OFFICIAL CHARTS FOR THE 2nd WEEK
ED LANDS HIS FIRST US #1 WITH “SHAPE OF YOU”

Chart-topping Ed Sheeran has unveiled the official video for “Castle On The Hill”. Shot in his native Framlingham, Suffolk, and directed by George Belfield, the coming-of-age video is a snapshot into Ed’s teen years alongside scenes of him returning home; the perfect accompaniment to the song’s beautifully honest storytelling.

Over the past two weeks, Ed has taken the globe by storm with the biggest musical comeback in recent years. Holding the #1 & #2 positions for the second week in the UK and Ireland’s Official Singles Chart [Ed made history as the first-ever artist to land the two spots respectively with two brand new tracks], last week, 25-year-old Ed accomplished yet more record-breaking acclaim: landing his first US #1 as a performer on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Shape Of You”. He also became the first artist ever to debut in Billboard’s Top 10 with two songs simultaneously, with “Castle On The Hill” debuting at #6.

To date, “Shape Of You” and “Castle On The Hill” have accumulated over an astounding 370 million combined, worldwide streams. Ed Sheeran’s third studio album ÷ (divide) will be released on 3rd March through Asylum/Atlantic Records (available to pre-order now).

2017 GRAMMY® NOMINEES ALBUM AVAILABLE NOW

Features 21 Hits From The World’s Biggest Superstars And Emerging Talent

The Recording Academy®’s GRAMMY Recordings® and Atlantic Records announce the release of the 2017 GRAMMY® Nominees album — which is now available in stores and via all digital retailers.

The 23rd installment of the best-selling series features 21 GRAMMY-nominated artists and hit songs from the world’s biggest superstars and hottest emerging talent, including Album Of The Year nominees Adele, Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Drake, and Sturgill Simpson and Best New Artist nominees Kelsea Ballerini, The Chainsmokers, Maren Morris, and Anderson .Paak, among others.

A portion of the proceeds from album sales will benefit the year-round efforts of the GRAMMY Museum Foundation™ and MusiCares Foundation® — The Recording Academy-affiliated charitable organizations focused on music education programs and critical assistance for music people in need.

The 59th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be held on Sunday, Feb. 12 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, and will be broadcast live on CBS at 8p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

PURCHASE LINKS:
iTunes: https://atlanti.cr/grammysitunes
Google Play: https://atlanti.cr/grammysgp

2017 GRAMMY® Nominees Album
Track Listing

1. BEYONCÉ
“Don’t Hurt Yourself” Feat. Jack White
Album Of The Year

2. TWENTY ONE PILOTS
“Stressed Out”
Record Of The Year
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

3. SIA
“Cheap Thrills” Feat. Sean Paul
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

4. DRAKE
“Hotline Bling”
Album Of The Year

5. ADELE
“Hello”
Record Of The Year
Album Of The Year
Best Pop Solo Performance
Best Pop Vocal Album

6. JUSTIN BIEBER
“Love Yourself”
Album Of The Year
Best Pop Solo Performance
Best Pop Vocal Album

7. THE CHAINSMOKERS
“Closer” Feat. Halsey
Best New Artist
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

8. KELSEA BALLERINI
“Peter Pan”
Best New Artist

9. MAREN MORRIS
“My Church”
Best New Artist
Best Country Solo Performance
Best Country Song

10. STURGILL SIMPSON
“Brace For Impact (Live A Little)”
Album Of The Year

11. ANDERSON .PAAK
“Am I Wrong” Feat. ScHoolBoy Q
Best New Artist

12. DEMI LOVATO
“Confident”
Best Pop Vocal Album

13. ARIANA GRANDE
“Dangerous Woman”
Best Pop Solo Performance
Best Pop Vocal Album

14. KELLY CLARKSON
“Piece By Piece (Idol Version)”
Best Pop Solo Performance

15. LUKAS GRAHAM
“7 Years”
Record Of The Year
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

16. CARRIE UNDERWOOD
“Church Bells”
Best Country Solo Performance

17. KEITH URBAN
“Blue Ain’t Your Color”
Best Country Solo Performance
Best Country Song

18. BRANDY CLARK
“Love Can Go To Hell”
Best Country Solo Performance

19. THOMAS RHETT
“Die A Happy Man”
Best Country Song

20. MIRANDA LAMBERT
“Vice”
Best Country Solo Performance
Best Country Song

21. TIM MCGRAW
“Humble And Kind”
Best Country Song

GLOBAL SUPERSTAR ED SHEERAN RETURNS!
ED UNVEILS TWO COMEBACK SINGLES

“CASTLE ON THE HILL” & “SHAPE OF YOU”
AVAILABLE NOW ON ITUNES, SPOTIFY, APPLE MUSIC & DEEZER

WATCH THE ACCOMPANYING LYRIC VIDEOS

“CASTLE ON THE HILL”

“SHAPE OF YOU”

22 MILLION ALBUMS SOLD, WORLDWIDE!
4.7 BILLION SPOTIFY STREAMS!
3.5 BILLION HITS ON HIS OFFICIAL YOUTUBE!

Multiple Grammy and BRIT Award-winning international mega-star, Ed Sheeran, has kicked-off music in 2017, unveiling TWO brand new singles – “Castle On The Hill” and “Shape Of You” – out now on Asylum Records and available through iTunes, Spotify and Apple Music here.

Ed Sheeran’s two comeback singles – “Castle On The Hill” and “Shape Of You” – mark a hugely exciting return and another forward-thinking move for the multi award-winning, modern-day troubadour. Unveiled in the early hours of this morning, the singles are Ed’s first releases since 2015 and showcase two very different sides to his unparalleled musical palate. “Castle On The Hill”, written by Ed and Benny Blanco (also on production), pays homage to growing up in Framlingham, Suffolk. Driving beats and Springsteen-esque riffs collide to create another stadium-ready anthem. “Shape Of You”, written by Ed, Johnny McDaid and Steve Mac (also on production), dismantles and rebuilds modern-pop music using little more than a loop pedal. The record is an extension of the sound for which Ed’s become so well-known and has set him apart from his peers – something he first showcased in 2010 with his pivotal SBTV live performance of “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You”, and executed on his debut EP ‘No.5 Collaborations Project’ (staring an array of grime artists including Wretch 32, Wiley + more), following in 2011.

Speaking about his monumental comeback, 25-year-old Ed commented – “Hello 2017! I’ve been working hard on the new material and I hope you can be as excited about it as I am. I really wanted to show two different sides to my music that I’m equally as passionate about and I just knew I wanted to roll with two songs at the same time. I’m absolutely buzzing to be back.”

Despite being out of the spotlight for a year on a well-deserved break, Ed’s name was still associated with some of 2016’s biggest hits. As one of the world’s most in-demand songwriters, he penned “Cold Water” for Major Lazer and “Love Yourself” for Justin Bieber; further proving his versatility and unique flair for penning global #1 records. Rewind to June 2014 to see Sheeran releasing his second studio album ‘x’ (pronounced “multiply”,) which has gone onto become one of the most significant and record-breaking albums of this millennium! Bolstered by the likes of Rick Rubin, Pharrell Williams and Benny Blanco on production, ‘x’ charted at #1 both sides of the Atlantic upon release, landed a further 95 #1 slots on iTunes across the globe and spawned his global no. 1, biggest-selling single to date – “Thinking Out Loud”. ‘x’ has now landed a staggering 90 x platinum certifications worldwide and was recently named one of the Official Chart Company’s biggest-selling albums of all time, having amassed over 3.4 BILLION streams! Breaking through to the mainstream in 2011 with his debut album ‘+’ (“plus”), the Suffolk native quickly made a name for himself as one of the hottest up-and-coming talents of that year, setting his musical trajectory to an extraordinary level from the off; Ed won his first Ivor Novello Award in 2011 for his breakthrough single “The A Team”, which also went onto become that year’s biggest-selling debut single.

*Please see below for a wealth of Ed’s record-breaking accolades across his two albums: ‘x’ & ‘+’*
In addition to Ed’s epic rise with his recorded music, the Suffolk-born artist has also broken records in the live sphere over recent years. Ed took to the stage of Croke Park, solo, in July 2015, becoming the first-ever artist to headline the prestigious venue without a band – with just his trademark loop pedal and guitar – seeing him play to 160,000 people over three consecutive sold-out nights! He followed with a live DVD titled ‘Jumpers for Goalposts’ at the end of 2015, which documented the lead-up to the Wembley weekend, including an array of live performances. Moreover, not only has Ed caught the headlines with his phenomenal solo concerts, he’s also been involved in an array of spellbinding collaborative performances over his career to date. In 2012, Ed performed at the London Olympics’ closing ceremony alongside members of Pink Floyd and Genesis for a very special version of “Wish You Were Here”. Go to 2015 and not only did Ed share the stage with Beyonce and Gary Clark Jr. at that year’s Grammy tribute for Stevie Wonder, at the aforementioned Wembley Stadium shows, Ed performed with Sir Elton John on the opening night, further proving his colossal status in the musical world.

Ed Sheeran, who was awarded an honouree degree from University Campus Suffolk in 2015 for his ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’, has won an astonishing array of awards during his flourishing career to date. Sheeran is now the proud possessor of: 4 x BRIT Awards, 2 x Grammys, 2 x Ivor Novello’s, 1 x Q Award, 1 x MTV VMA Award, 1 x American Music Award, 1 x BBC Music Award, 2 x People’s Choice Awards, 3 x Teen Choice Awards, 2 x MTV European Music Awards, 1 x 1Xtra Power List and more. Adding further strings to his bow, he also unveiled his very own record label ‘Gingerbread Man Records’ last year (a subsidiary of Atlantic Records UK), which has kick-started the burgeoning career of #1 recording artist and Ivor Novello-winning, Jamie Lawson, along with the inimitable talent that is Foy Vance.

As Ed kicks-off music in 2017, watch this space to see one of the world’s most-loved, talented and in-demand recording artists continue to make history.

‘x’ (“multiply”) – 2014
• Ed worked with Rick Rubin, Pharrell Williams and Benny Blanco on the LP
• Charted at #1 on both sides of the Atlantic upon release
• Landed 95 x #1 spots on iTunes across the globe
• 14 x Platinum in Ireland // 90 x platinum certifications, worldwide
• 13 million global sales
• 3.4 billion streams to date
• 2014’s Christmas #1 album
• Spent 84 consecutive weeks in the Top Ten In Ireland
• 2014’s most-streamed album on Spotify, globally
• Longest consecutive reign in the UK’s Top 10 Official Albums Chart for a British artist ever at 77 weeks (taking over Adele’s “21”)
• Biggest-ever ‘week one’ album streams in Spotify history (up until very recently) with 23 million & went onto become the most continuously played album on Spotify since release
• One of the Official Chart Company’s 60 biggest-selling albums of all time with 13 million global sales
• ‘Album of the Year’, BRIT Awards (2015) // ‘Songwriting of the Year’, Ivor Novello’s (2015)
• In the summer of 2015 – a year on from release – ‘x’ was still the most-streamed album in the world
• The album spawned an array of colossal #1 singles including the 18 x platinum “Sing”, the 18 x platinum “Don’t”, “I See Fire” (soundtracked The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug), “Photograph”, “Bloodstream” and the timeless 68 x platinum “Thinking Out Loud”
“Thinking Out Loud”
– First song ever to reach 500 million Spotify streams (over 780 million streams to date)
– #1 on iTunes in 85 markets upon release
– Won 2 x Grammy Awards in 2016: ‘Song of the Year’ and ‘Best Solo Pop Performance’
– BMI Award for ‘Song of the Year’ last October
– 1.5 billion hits on the official video

‘+’ (“plus”) – 2011
• 8.8 million global sales
• Spawned Sheeran’s breakthrough single “The A Team”
• 45 x platinum certifications, worldwide
• The album was home to Sheeran’s other breakthrough hit singles: “Lego House”, “Small Bump”, “Give Me Love” and “Drunk”
“The A Team”
– won ‘Best Song Musically and Lyrically’ at the Ivor Novello’s (2011)
– Best-selling debut single of the year in UK