Subtract: Ed Sheeran explores mortality and sorrow

Ed Sheeran’s new album has topped Bilboard’s new music poll. Music fans voted on the poll, last Friday (May 5). And chose the British singer’s “Subtract” as their favourite new music release of the past week.

The sixth studio album stands out above the rest with its subdued, primarily acoustic and downtempo sound. Darkness seemed to be all around Sheeran in 2022, the year when most of the album’s songs were written. It is a long way from the heavy beats of its predecessor “=” (Equals).

The Guardian describes “Subtract” as “a noticeably different prospect to previous albums” with its more introspective tone, and darker notes.

“-” (pronounced Subtract) was released on Friday. It came hours after Sheeran won a copyright lawsuit in the US. The release was accompanied by a full visual album. It features a music video for each of the 14 songs.

The Subtract Tour

Sheeran also announced the dates for his stadium tour starting in May. However, fans can also enjoy “Subtract” in smaller theaters on the Subtract Tour, said the singer in a social media statement:

I’m playing some smaller theatre shows in the US this summer, so I can play Subtract the entire way through with full band in an intimate setting

Sheeran abandoned some of the songs he initially wrote for the album over many years. All in favour of new songs written about the challenges he faced in 2022.

Into this year, Sheeran’s wife, Cherry, was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in her arm. While still pregnant with their second child. Later, in February, Sheeran’s close friend, Jamal Edwards, died.

2022 was also the year where Sheeran faced multiple lawsuits. Accusations of plagiarism arose, since he often uses familiar pop chord progressions. The most recent case involves Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”.

The release of Subtract marks the end of Sheeran’s series of albums named after maths symbols: + (Plus), x (Multiply), ÷ (Divide) and = (Equals).