Ed Sheeran has released Play – The Remixes EP.
The global pop megastar has reimagined four tracks from his latest LP – inspired by his trip to India – by teaming up with South Asian artists including Hanumankind, Dhee, Santhosh Narayanan, Karan Aujla, Jonita, and Arijit Singh.
Ed also worked with an array of producers, including ILYA, Johnny McDaid, Savan Kotecha, FRED, and Elvira Anderfjärd.
He said of the EP: “Making and finishing Play in India was such a fun experience. Being there over the last decade through touring, I’ve met lots of local artists along the way, and I’ve been introduced to all types of music and cultures. I’ve loved this collaboration process so much and I wanted to represent as much as I could on this EP…”
The Shape of You hitmaker has shared a track-by-track rundown of the four remixes.
While discussing Symmetry featuring Karan Aujla, Ed teased that more is to come from the pair.
He said: “Karan is culture, and I love the movement he’s making with Ikky at the moment. It’s been so cool watching the thing he’s built and becoming a part of that world and journey. He taught me the Punjabi parts on this song in the studio, and we got to shoot an amazing video for it. I feel like this is the beginning of our collaborative journey, and I’m so excited to create more.”
On how Don’t Look Down featuring Hanumankind, Dhee and Santhosh Narayanan came to be, he explained: “I loooove Hanumankind and got the opportunity to meet him at Coachella and catch his show. I was obsessed with the energy and feel of it all. We connected then and were speaking about working together, then this idea came up. Santhosh is one of the greatest film composers and introduced me to Dhee who is such an amazing talent and voice. I wanted to represent South India on this EP and the beautiful Tamil language, and they have done such an amazing job in fusing it together. (sic)”
Working on global smash hit Sapphire with Arijit — and having his father, John Sheeran, there to witness it all – is one of Ed’s “favourite memories” of his career so far.
He said: “Everyone already knows the story to this but going to Jiaganj Azimganj with my dad to create this with Arijit is one of my favourite memories in my musical career.”
Lastly, Ed said it was “an honour” to join forces with Jonita on his first Hindi song after sharing a stage last year.
He wrote: “I met Jonita 2024 when I played in Mumbai and then got to do some shows with her the following year when I came back for tour. In short, I’m a fan. I love her voice, the tone, the softness. This was the perfect tune for us to do together and it’s also the first Hindi song I have released. It’s an honour to do it with her – what a talent.”
Play – The Remixes EP track-listing:
Symmetry (feat. Karan Aujla)
Don’t Look Down (feat. Hanumankind, Dhee Santhosh Narayanan)
Sapphire (feat. Arijit Singh)
Heaven (feat. Jonita)