Sheeran opened up about the inspiration behind Play in an Instagram post where he admitted the "album that was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life," which prompted him to "to create joy and technicolour,

"The older I get the more I just want to enjoy things, and savour the moments that are mad and chaotic," the musician shared about the first installment of his new album series, out Sept. 12

Ed Sheeran has announced his upcoming eighth album “Play,” arriving Sept. 12 via Gingerbread Records/Atlantic Records.