If you haven’t heard of British singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran, it’s likely that you’ve been living under a rock. With his ginger hair, smooth acoustic guitar riffs, prolific lyrics, and pure voice, it’s hard to pass by without a second glance. In honor of his recent Atlanta concert (which received rave reviews) and upcoming performance at The Grammys with Sir Elton John, here are just a few reasons why Ed Sheeran should be everyone’s favorite artist.
A self-proclaimed geek, Ed Sheeran has said that God gave him his musical talent in order to “help him get laid.” Sheeran grew up with a hearing problem and large blue glasses, and says he picked up a guitar to make him seem a little cooler. He started writing his own songs while in high school, many of which landed as tracks on his debut album “+.” After moving to London in 2008 and signing with a small management agency, Sheeran continued to play as many gigs as possible. 2010 proved to be the year that changed it all for Ed Sheeran. He cut his management team loose and boarded a plane to Los Angeles with no contacts or gigs. He began playing open mic nights, and one lucky performance led Ed to Jamie Foxx. Foxx was so impressed with Sheeran’s talent that he offered his recording studio and house for Ed’s use. One EP later, Ed’s songs were thrust into mainstream music through an iTunes release. His independent success attracted the attention of Atlantic Records, with whom he signed in April 2011.
At 21, Ed Sheeran has already become a master of the British musical scene. “+” (pronounced “plus”, which dropped in September 2011 in the UK) has gone quadruple platinum and earned him two BRIT Awards, which are the UK equivalent to The Grammys. His songs are ingenious works of stories, thoughts, and beautiful melodies. Songs like “Drunk,” “Kiss Me,” and “Sunburn” leave music addicts hungry for more. But it has been his debut single about a drug addict, “The A Team,” that has landed him numerous awards and nominations, most recently putting him in the running of Song of the Year at The Grammys. He’s performed for the Queen, collaborated with Pink Floyd at The Olympics Closing Ceremonies, and released a song with Taylor Swift. Aside from writing all his own songs, Sheeran has also collaborated with British-Irish super group One Direction, writing three songs for the band. Their second single from Take Me Home, “Little Things,” was written by Sheeran when he was just 17, and earned Ed a number one song in the UK.
Despite all the commercial success and awards, Ed Sheeran has stayed completely true to his roots. Whether he’s performing at a small music club like The Tabernacle, or a sold-out crowd while opening for One Direction at Madison Square Garden, Sheeran takes the stage in his jeans and t-shirt, his guitar at his side. It’s evident that he’s a musician for one reason only—simply his love for the craft itself. He may have played with and beat out some of music’s biggest stars, but he is still the cool, normal British guy having a pint at the bar with his friends (even if one of his best friends happens to be 1D’s Harry Styles). And it’s totally certain that Ed Sheeran’s music won’t be going anywhere for quite some time!