Ed Sheeran. Seriously.
RollingStone India|April 2023
When he became a dad, his ‘party boy’ days had to end. Then tragedy struck, forcing him to face his hidden dark side — and hit the hottest creative streak in a career full of them
Brian Hiatt
Ed Sheeran. Seriously.

In case there’s any doubt, Ed Sheeran is well aware of the fact that he’s … Ed Sheeran.

“I’m not an idiot,” he says, early in our acquaintance. “When you say in your office, ‘I’m gonna go and interview Ed Sheeran,’ you must get sneers. I’ve always been that guy.”

The state of being that guy, at the least the public version of him, is a paradoxical one. Sheeran is, on the one hand, unquestionably among the 21st century’s very biggest global pop superstars. That’s why he’s 11,000 miles from home right now, in the fenced-off, tree-lined backyard of a rented bungalow in Auckland, New Zealand, lounging in the shade his complexion demands (“I live in the shade), under blue-gray skies. Later this week, he’ll play to some 100,000 people over two shows here. His last tour was the highest-grossing of all time, until his mentor, Elton John, surpassed it; this one, somehow slated to last five full years, may well reclaim the title. He’s one of the top five most-streamed artists ever on Spotify, a statistic that doesn’t even include his “hobby,” all the hits he’s written for other artists, from Justin Bieber to BTS.

This story is from the April 2023 edition of RollingStone India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 2023 edition of RollingStone India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM ROLLINGSTONE INDIAView All
anumitanadesan
RollingStone India

anumitanadesan

The singer-songwriter talks about her first Malayalam film song, her upcoming debut abum and working across genres and languages

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2024
amrit ramneath
RollingStone India

amrit ramneath

Understanding the interplay between abiding by tradition and progress is no new feat for this 25-year-old composer

time-read
5 mins  |
April 2024
yashraj
RollingStone India

yashraj

With chart-topping collaborations with seasoned veterans, this rapper has consistently been in the conversations of industry observers

time-read
6 mins  |
April 2024
dǝbzee
RollingStone India

dǝbzee

The 'Malabari Banger' hitmaker shares exclusive insights on his upcoming projects, life, and his vision for the future of music in India

time-read
6 mins  |
April 2024
taba chake
RollingStone India

taba chake

The Arunachal Pradesh-based singer-song-writer discusses how his latest song \"Kahani\" reflects the power of love songs.

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2024
ranj x clifr
RollingStone India

ranj x clifr

The Bengaluru singer-composer and producer duo may not be done with hip-hop, but they are venturing into pop, R&B and Tamil songs next

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2024
RESHAPING THE FUTURE OF MUSIC
RollingStone India

RESHAPING THE FUTURE OF MUSIC

How digital collectibles, especially for live events, have a tremendous potential

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2024
Evnne On 'Un: Seen,' Their 'Seen,' And 'Unseen' Sides
RollingStone India

Evnne On 'Un: Seen,' Their 'Seen,' And 'Unseen' Sides

The Band Discusses How A Setback Early In Their Career Spurred Them On And How They Fused Those Experiences With Their Sound In Their Second Mini Album, ‘Un: Seen

time-read
10+ mins  |
April 2024
kayan
RollingStone India

kayan

Between fandoms and aesthetic-setting live shows, artist Ambika Nayak talks about wanting to put out an album

time-read
6 mins  |
April 2024
anoushka maskey
RollingStone India

anoushka maskey

Taking her “self-organized” Sunny Side Tour across the country, the Sikkim-origin artist is prioritizing consistent releases and exploring bossa nova next

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2024