He's a rising star. He's unstoppable. Ed Sheeran tore into the music scene in 2011 with his first studio album, +, and now his approaching sophomore release, slated for a February release, is one of the most anticipated of 2014. As adoring fans count down the dwindling weeks before its debut, Sheeran helps ail their woes by sharing all he can, providing them with a sense of what sounds they can expect to warm their souls during the heart of winter.
Sheeran has been working feverously since March. He moved to Hendersonville, Tennessee to write new material for the upcoming follow up to +, but he came away with much more. Not only did the singer come up with tunes to grace the new album, he wrote nearly five album's worth. Let the world rejoice. The Ed Sheeran takeover has officially begun.
"I demoed 70 songs," Sheeran told Rolling Stone. "I'm hoping to release three [albums] in three years." Although he has the material, he has yet to decide which songs will be devoted to the first of the three, but he's not too worried. "I've got the whole months of October and November to decide what to do," he said.
Although the details are still blurry, he did spill that he's brought Jeff Bhasker and Rick Rubin onboard to produce the album.
"Rick had an idea of me recording it completely acoustic and then adding [instrumentation later]," Sheeran said. "There are just so many tunes and so many directions to go with the album that I don't really know."
"Rubin's got one beanbag [chair] in [this big room] and two speakers by the beanbag, and you sit on the beanbag and play him tunes," he said. "It's completely sparse - there's nothing in it but a beanbag and two speakers. It's f***ing amazing."
Rubin's approach proved successful. With such an arsenal of music, his three album target is easily within reach, he just needs to wrap up his sophomore attempt first. "He's been a very, very helpful guy... but as far as the record is concerned, production-wise, I don't really know where I'm going to go with it."
February is still a ways away, but Sheeran fans are eager. Let's hope he makes up his mind sooner than later.