In a warm, immersive setting, Ed Sheeran stepped onto the stage this Friday to preview selections from his upcoming studio album, Sticker. The performance offered a candid glimpse into a project that maps personal moments and a spectrum of emotions explored during its writing and production.
From the moment the British artist appeared, he delighted hundreds of fans who earned access by invitation or lottery, offering early impressions of an album where love and human loss emerge as central themes across the tracks.
While expectations hinted at an eclectic mix reflecting Sheeran’s proven versatility, this appearance leaned toward an intimate, purely acoustic presentation. The show suggested that Sticker will blend a variety of textures while preserving the songwriter’s unmistakable melodic sensibility.
On the grand stage of the Hall of Columns at the Circulo de Bellas Artes, the setting felt simple yet majestic, its elegant architecture framing a deeply personal musical moment. The lighting wrapped the room in a warm, familiar glow that complemented the artist’s relaxed, clear vocal delivery and restrained piano and guitar accompaniments.
“I wasn’t ready to come back to life after Jamal died, and that shaped the music”
Sheeran, always expressive, shared stories that inspired several new songs. One track, Eyes Closed, which has circulated already, revisits his early days in West London at eighteen. He explained that the process of processing grief after the loss of his friend Jamal helped steer his music forward, shaping the emotional core of the set.
He touched on the intense and challenging moments surrounding the pregnancy of his wife, Cherry Seaborn. The couple welcomed a second daughter, Jupiter, while facing a medical concern that was partially diagnosed during the pregnancy, a difficult period reflected in material around Çınar and other songs that carry a weighty sense of endurance.
The British singer-songwriter also performed tracks such as Boat, Salt Water, Life Goes On, The End of Youth, and The Hills of Aberfeldy. He spoke honestly about moments of sadness and described how he found a way through those times with music and support from loved ones.
“I come to Spain a lot, but not to work”
The crowd’s applause grew as Sheeran paused, listening to quiet moments when a fan urged him to visit Spain more often. He acknowledged the sentiment with a candid remark about his frequent travels to Spain, noting that the trips are typically for inspiration rather than formal studio sessions.
After performing four new songs and four hits, the artist lingered on stage for a final spell, allowing the audience to savor the familiar melodies that have made him a global star. Hits that resonate beyond his core fan base, such as Your Form, Excellent, and Bad Habits, drew enthusiastic, near universal applause, with hardly a quiet moment in the room.
Approximately thirty minutes later, the show drew to a close as Sheeran left the stage to a thunderous ovation, his expression a mix of relief and gratitude. The moment left the crowd with happiness and anticipation for what Sticker might bring to the world of pop and singer-songwriter storytelling, signaling the artist’s ongoing ability to connect with listeners through honesty and melody. The appearance offered a clear first impression of the album, inviting listeners to anticipate its full release and the stories it will tell to a broad audience. The performance and its reception became a memorable chapter in the ongoing dialogue between the artist and his devoted audience. Audience reactions and the sense of shared experience underscored the power of live storytelling in contemporary music.
Note: The account reflects impressions from the live event and the artist’s own remarks about the inspiration and process behind his forthcoming work. Observers record the emotional arc and the themes of love, loss, resilience, and daily realities of life as central to Sticker, with a listening experience that promises both intimate moments and expansive, anthemic passages. The narrative reflects ongoing coverage of a major contemporary artist as he expands his catalog and contemplates the next phase of his career, inviting fans to witness the evolution of a voice that has continually shaped pop culture across generations.