Ed Sheeran recently released a new song titled “Old Phone,” the second single from his upcoming album Play, following “Azizam.” I’ve been listening to Ed since he put out “Lego House” and all those other early hits. I’m not going to pretend I discovered him before he got big—I didn’t. But “Old Phone” is yet another great piece from one of the all-time greatest songwriters.

Whether or not you personally think Ed Sheeran is great, you have to admit—he’s undeniably good at what he does. There’s some word out there that fits, and it’s definitely positive.

“Old Phone” is a laid-back, easygoing track. It’s smooth, gentle, and completely free of any intrusive sounds. It might be the most country-sounding song I’ve ever heard from Ed. Maybe I’ve missed something in his catalog, but I don’t recall him leaning into this kind of sound before. It actually reminds me a bit of John Mayer’s Paradise Valley era—especially the outro, with those falsetto vocals and that rhythm section that rolls along like a moving train.

The lyrics feel honest and straightforward. I don’t really feel the need to unpack them here—you’ll get the message just by listening once. That’s not a bad thing; they’re just clear and accessible without needing deep analysis.

I’m genuinely excited for Ed Sheeran’s upcoming album. With every release, he seems to evolve his sound just enough to keep things fresh. He’s clean, talented, and knows how to craft melodies that reach all corners of the world. I doubt he needs much help with promotion, but still—go give “Old Phone” a listen. If you don’t, you’ll probably hear it playing somewhere soon anyway.

Author: Peter Källman

Peter Källman is a writer from Sweden who loves playing in bands, writing reviews and going to live shows!