Ed Sheeran's new album 'Play' was written as a "direct response" to the "darkest period" of his life

Ed Sheeran's new album 'Play' was written as a "direct response" to the "darkest period" of his life.

The pop star is returning to the charts later this year with the new record - set for release in September - and he's now revealed 'Play' features a "real rollercoaster of emotions" as it was written during a tough time and he just wanted to use music to create "joy".

In a post on Instagram, Ed explained: "'Play' was an album that was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life. Coming out of all of that I just wanted to create joy and technicolour, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring.

"I made this record all over the world, finished it in Goa, India, and had some of the most fun, explorative creative days of my life. It’s a real rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish, it encapsulates everything that I love about music, and the fun in it, but also where I am in life as a human, a partner, a father."

He added: "Going into this album campaign I said to myself ‘I just want everything I do to be fun and playful’ - so that’s why we are building pubs for folk jams, doing gigs on open top busses and singing in pink cowboy hats on bars.

"The older I get the more I just want to enjoy things, and savour the moments that are mad and chaotic. You can preorder play now, many many more playful things to come before it’s out. [New single] 'Old Phone' also out today, go listen."

Ed previously admitted he suffered dark times after his pal Jamal Edwards died in 2022 while the singer's wife Cherry was diagnosed with a tumour while pregnant with their second child, and he also missed his grandmother's funeral due to a court hearing over one of the lawsuits he was subjected to after being accused of plagiarism.

He told TIME magazine: “One thing I've learned about depression is you don’t take a magic pill and it's suddenly gone.

"But you can have periods of your life where you're better, and periods of your life where you're not. It gets less and less painful year on year, but always allow yourself to feel grief. Don't put it in a box and lock it away."