Ed Sheeran: You Either Love Me or Hate Me (Full Episode)
What is up, Daddy gang? It is your. founding father, Alex Cooper, with Call. Her Daddy. Ed Sheeran, welcome to Call Her Daddy. Hey. Okay, wait. I was going to ask you. a musician never is sitting in the seat. at 9:00 a.m. Like, I've never had a. musician. Is that the coffee? There we go. Bring in the coffee. Thank you. Um. thank you so much. Thank you. Um I'm. honestly an early riser. Like, I'm an. early riser and an early bed-timer, but.
I have two very young girls at home. So, like, I'm up at 5:30 every morning. Oh. my god. So, um yeah. I was up I was up at about. 6:30 this morning. And what time did you. go to bed? 3:30. Oh, wow. So, you could. get like Do you get a little like loopy? Like, are you going to get like weird. funny? Are you going to like fall asleep. on me? Honestly, I have no idea where my body. is at the moment. We've been in India, China, and then just it and then we UK. for a bit and then now in America. So, I'm my my body is all over the shop at. the moment. Wait, you were in Boston? We're in.
Boston last night, yeah. That is one of my favorite places ever. I went to college there. So, Boston to. me is like. did you go to? Boston University. Amazing. I spent many nights on bar. floors and club floors and. originally from? Pennsylvania. Amazing. And then I went to school in. Boston and I remember being in Boston. and be like, this is the greatest. [ __ ] place. These bars are epic. The. people are epic. Like, everyone just. goes so [ __ ] hard. feels European. It definitely has like a. a vibe about it that every time I've. gone to Boston like, it's always been.
the first. place for me like the first biggest. theater I played and the first arena I. played here and then the first stadium. and it's always been but I guess there's. something to do with the. Irish heritage, I guess, that. yeah. But it yeah, I love I I love. Boston. Last night was fun. We did it. was obviously St. Patrick's Day. And um. I flew the the folk band that play with. me on Galway Girl. I flew them over and. they learned all my songs and we. basically did a trad jam of It was like. a set, but it was like with an Irish.
trad band in a pub. where you were like running on top of. the bar singing? No, that was in Nashville. That was in. Nashville. been like getting after it. Yeah, I've been around. I kind of this. whole. entering into this album campaign, I was. just like I don't want to do anything. that I've done before. And for me all of. that sort of stuff is so fun. It like. way more fun than like organizing a like. proper gig that's ticketed and blah blah. blah. If you just turn up somewhere and. play, you still play the gig, but it's. just chaotic and fun. That's fun though. that you're at a place in your career.
where you're even interested in doing. those type of things cuz I feel like the. bigger people get, they're like, "No, I. don't need to go do random [ __ ] like. that.". it's the That's I feel like that's when. you actually connect with people. I. think I find it so fun. Uh I like the balance of having. all of it, like even when I was on tour. in the States last time, but I was doing. a theater on a Friday and then a stadium. on a Saturday, and I loved the. juxtaposition of the two. And I think. being a performer, it no matter what you. do in life, if you do the same thing all.
the time, eventually it's going to get. tiresome, even if it's playing a stadium. show the whole time, which is obviously. like a really, really amazing thing to. do, but it I When people I talk to. people about it and they ask about doing. these pop-up shows to 20, 30 people, I'm. like, "You wouldn't eat a burger. breakfast, lunch, and dinner every. single day." So, it's nice having. a little little mix-up. We're switching. it, yeah. Call Her Daddy is brought to. you by Tinder. Have you ever seen. someone on Tinder that really stands out. to you? Like, "Oh my gosh, this person. is such a catch." Now with Tinder's. First Impressions, you can send a.
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Rodeos. Yeah, I'm down. Okay. I like Do you know. what I like is is culture and I feel. like a rodeo is is culture. I like going. to countries and feeling. Like that's what I I lived in I lived in. Nashville for a couple of years. I lived. in New York for a year. I've lived in LA. like on and off and doing things that. are so specifically American. Um. if that makes sense. Like you go to. whenever I travel the world, I'll try. and do things that are feel cultural and. I feel like going to a baseball game and. having a hot dog feels for me as a Brit.
I'm like, this feels American. I think. like a rodeo is that for me. Like get. getting into the swing of that would be. fun. Like I would love I spoke to my. promoter and I was like, do they do. tours of rodeos? Cuz I'd love to just. tour rodeos. Even if it's like for 4. weeks, just. do it. Okay, you living in Nashville at. that time or anytime, have you ever. considered doing a country album? I. think there's Yeah, I guess so, but I. the from living in Nashville, you can't. just like dip your toe in. If I'm going.
to do it, I have to do it and then. that's it. I'm. do you have like a good twang? Like. could you pull it off? I feel cuz my. heritage is is sort of Anglo-Irish and I. grew up with trad music in my household. I think it would have to be a little. twinge of that. I think I'd have I'd. have to bring Irish trad music into. country cuz it's all kind of it's the. same instruments anyway, but um yeah, so. I wouldn't have a twang. Um but I've. made I've made country songs in the. past. They've just never come out. I.
feel like I have to. I I have to do it probably properly and. I think when you transition to country, you can't transition back. Once you're. there, you're there. So maybe you'll do. it like your later years of life. 100% and Nashville's like my favorite. city in in the States and I would Yeah, it's always been like my end goal would. be like, I'm going to move to Nashville. and try and transition to country but. I yeah I I think you just have to do it. properly. It's like a it's a genre you. have to really respect and um it's not. just a dipping in and out. I get it. Yeah. Um okay, the Super Bowl.
I like it. Have you ever been asked to. do the Super Bowl? There was a. conversation about 10 years ago to go on. with someone and I think that would be. the only way that I would do it at the. moment. I don't think I've had this. conversation before. I don't think. English artists are like I mean there. are some that have the pizzazz of Super. Bowl, fireworks, dancers, blah blah. blah, but me going up there and being. like here's the A-Team and here's. perfect. I just like no one wants to see. that. Whereas if there was a show with a. lot of that like say like.
if it was Beyoncé's show and she had. all the kind of bells and whistles and. then there was a moment where we sang. perfect together. That makes sense to. me, but me I don't know I can't I can't. picture myself doing it. Can you picture me doing it? I as you're. talking I'm trying to picture it. What. if what if it's like a spotlight? For 15 minutes? No. You know? I would definitely go on and do it with. with someone. I think I think yeah just. to do the Super Bowl, but I don't think.
my. uh set. lends itself to that. I don't know I. just you know like you you got horses. for courses. You got to do what like. suits you. don't get it twisted. I really. appreciate the self-awareness. Like most. people would be like call me whenever. and put me in you're like you know I. don't know if I've got that side of the. things where I'm like going out and. outfit changes. I think I could nail one song. I think I. could if someone brings me on I think I. could do it really well for one song,
but I can't. just my the the catalog that I have. doesn't really lend itself Have you seen. me play as well cuz it's with a loop. pedal and you have to build the things. doesn't really lend itself to the Super. Bowl. Hey hang on guys I just got to set. this up for 2 minutes. You know, it. doesn't really. And also like you saying like and I come. out and I'm singing like 18 like. everyone just starts sobbing in the. audience and is like getting in their. feels and then. Yeah, or they just go and get a beer. This is so comfy here, by the. Are you Isn't this cozy? I wanted you to feel like you can really. like you could take off your shoes. You.
don't have to take off your shoes, but. some people take off their shoes. They're very clean. Okay, don't take off. your shoes. Keep your shoes on. Um ranch. dressing. I got really into ranch. dressing when I lived in Nashville and. then I got really fat. So, I've kind of like eased off the ranch. dressing a bit. I'm more of a like. balsamic vinegar boy. Sorry, what? Yeah. A balsamic? Balsamic vinegar, you never had that? Oh, balsam Oh, right. Yeah. No. I have this in restaurants where I say. water and they're like, "What?" What Oh, water. Water. Wait. Say it balsamic.
Balsamic. Oh my god, I thought you said. a bal A balsamic. No, I thought you said. a ball sack. No, I thought you said a. ball salmon. Then Right. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, so you're into your. balsamic vinegar right? Yeah. Oh, healthy imagine. we we we have a cider where I'm from in. in Suffolk that's like it's like the. number one cider in in the UK and it's. called Aspall's and I was saying that to. a friend and he was like, "Y'all have a. cider called ass balls?".
You never see it. It does sound like. that. What is it? Aspall's. It's like it's well, it's a. a cider it's like a Oh, you guys would. call it hard cider. What is your. favorite thing to eat when you're here? Chicken wings. But the chicken wings are. like the size of my fist and when you. see the chicken wings in England, they're like, you know, actual chicken wings but they're quite. like meager and you know, but here it's. like you're literally eating steroids. It looks like they're pumping them with. all that [ __ ] and then we're like eating. it and acting like nothing's wrong.
Um okay, the best American fast food. chain in your opinion. Five Guys. I think everywhere around around the. world, but I'd say when I'm in America, Whataburger in Texas. I think that that. burger bangs the most in terms of all. the burgers that I've had, Whataburger. bangs. But if there's it's an American. fast food chain around the world, I'd usually go Five Guys. Oh, I [ __ ]. with KFC as well, man. I really like. KFC. Yeah. Have you had In-N-Out? Yes.
I've had I've had In-N-Out. I do like. In-N-Out. But I feel like there needs to be a a. wide. wide lens view on a fast food. restaurant, and I don't think In-N-Out's. chips bang. Sorry, their fries. I don't. think they bang. Whereas KFC actually do the best fries. KFC fries bang. What? They bang. I've never had. I've never had their fries. Oh, yeah, yeah. I need to go try them. this about Burger King as well, cuz I've. never really been keen on Burger King's. burgers, but their fries are always. good. Oh, their fries are so [ __ ] good. Um but yeah, KFC KFC fries um [ __ ] it. I.
actually mate, both kids the night. before we stayed at my manager's house, and both my children the night before we. had a big family bucket. That was like. our initial big family bucket and a. bottle of Dominus. You know Dominus red. wine from Napa? Yeah. Like really nice wine with a family. bucket. That is like so high-low. You're. like eating KFC, and then you're like. drinking your nice wine. You're like, this is life. Okay, how do we feel about. Disneyland? My kids like Disney. We went to Disneyland. They weren't.
like they just weren't [ __ ] with it. And it was sort of like I wanted I. wanted to sort of see them go, "Wow.". But they were just sort of like. I don't know, yeah. I think it's there. is no one that's like, "That was fine.". It's either like. or I'm getting married there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Which I think is. great. I think it's great. I think like. I find anything in life that has to be. those extremities. That's what I feel. about my music. Is I either have people. that really hate me or really love me.
There's no kind of like passive eh. It's uh and I think that middle bit is. what you have to avoid. That like yes. it's it's all right. Like you have to be. like fanatical about something or like I. don't like that thing. So you would. rather someone be like [ __ ] Ed Sheeran. rather than be like he's all right. Yeah, that's been my entire career. And. that's how that's how you have a fan. base is. people people really ride for you or. they really [ __ ] want to take you. down. Why do you think people don't like. you? I don't know. I think that.
sometimes overexposure goes into it. Like songs being on the radio too much. I think also I don't like necessarily. fit the social norm of what a pop star. should like look like or act like. And I. I don't know if that like rubs people up. the wrong way that. um that I do look like their brother who. works at a pizza shop. I feel like. people are like why? Like why has that. happened? Um and maybe that annoys them. And then you pair that with the. overexposure. Um. Has anyone ever in the beginning days of.
your career tried to convince you like. wait, let's dress like this and cut your. hair like this and do that? Totally, yeah. And I think you kind of. I've sort of like slipped into that as. well. Especially like because of the. uh the era that I came up in was. you know, Justin Bieber was massive, One. Direction were massive. And I think. there was always part of me that goes. should I. sort of look like that. And. What would that have looked like? What. would we have done at. I don't look like that as a like you. it's like dressing a mannequin that just.
doesn't need to be dressed like that, you know? So I feel like oh I always. have to stay true to like who I am. And. also my fan base. from the beginning. started out kind of misfitty like me. And my gigs were just full of people. that. you know, it was like ripped jeans, baggy. you know, Converse, big shirts. uh rather than we're getting glammed up. to go out to the gig. It might like have. segued into that now that the gigs are. bigger and people have got got older. But I found being a misfit, I attracted. misfits. Yes, I do remember the like.
Tumblr era photos of you. And those were. cool. I liked that side. But then I get what. you're saying like I couldn't have seen. you in like a. purple leather getup with like a. backwards hat and like yeah, yeah, yeah. I think it's good that you stay. Maybe when I'm old maybe the Super Bowl. Maybe that's when I debut it. Oh my god, you're going to come out at the Super. Bowl. You're going to have a full. leather getup. And then the year after. you're going to go right to country. music and you're going to wear a cowboy. hat for the rest of your career. And actually leather trousers you could.
reuse them on both. Cuz you being a being a cowboy, you got. to have uh some leather there, you know? Do you own any leather trousers? Yes. Yeah, cuz I dressed up as Edward. Scissorhands for um. I did a Christmas I do a Christmas party. every year with my best friends. I. dressed up as Edward Scissorhands. So I. was like full leather. How did that go? Uh I had to take off the jacket after. about 10 minutes cuz I was like I am. hot. And bear in mind this is December. in England when it's freezing and I was. still roasting. Oh, interesting.
trousers aren't. I don't [ __ ] with them. You know, okay. Um can we talk about your home in. England? You built a pub in your garden. Explain how, why, what was the. inspiration? I think. like there was a local pub that I would. always go to and. uh I still do go to it, but there's you. can never really let loose the way that. you used to be able to as in my teenage. years. You know, you go to a pub to blow. off steam and I think it sort of turned.
into everyone always knew that I went to. this place. So. I don't know, you could never really get. to the point where you're actually like. blowing off steam and proper drunk. because you have to kind of keep an eye. out on anything, you know? Anything. could happen. Um so there was a. dilapidated barn on my land. So I was. like we could just turn it into a pub. So I I bought an old pub off eBay like. the kind of the counter and the whatever. fitted in. It was on eBay, yeah. It's on eBay. It. was just an old pub that had sort of.
taken the sort of shelving and counter. and stuff. Um and then I got all the plumbing, wiring, I don't really even know, the. pipes put in. Uh and it's sort of like it's a room for. memorabilia. I think Cherry was like. eventually there was there was so much. [ __ ] in the house that actually just. having it all in one place like even. just like meeting this. football player and having a shirt. signed and having it on the wall like. it's better having it there than in the. bedroom, you know. Absolutely. She's. like take all of your [ __ ].
it's all it's basically I have cuz. there's like a tunnel to it and in the. tunnel there's like I built like a a. listening room and there's a cinema and. that's kind of my I'd say it's less of. like a man cave and more of a man. catacombs. Um I love that for you. Cherry's like go and be gone and like do. your thing. Cuz I collect um movie props, too. So, I've got like all of that. there. What is your favorite movie prop. that you have? Uh. I'm a huge Hook fan, so I bought uh.
Robin Williams's Pan costume and Rufio's. sword and then uh Julia Roberts's. Tinkerbell costume. So, probably those. two. How much? Above six figures? No, no, no. Not on those. Not on those. I have done on props before. Like I. bought C-3PO. That was. not cheap. Do you regret it? No. I do it every birthday. I just buy one. prop a year and for my birthday instead. like it's like the thing that I look. forward to. I think all year what am I. going to get? There's always a movie. prop auction around that time and yeah,
I choose one thing and. Is there anything out there that you're. like I've got my eye on this? Uh yeah, cuz the auction's coming up. I'm trying to get the George Clooney. Batman costume. Cuz everyone doesn't like the Batman and. Robin film, but that was my first Batman. film that I saw, so I have a real like. um draw to that movie. I bought the. Alicia Silverstone Batwoman costume from. that, so it would be like a. matching. Wait, so are you going to. these auctions? It's online. It's online. You're like an.
eBay guy, huh? Yeah, but I spend a lot of time in hotel. rooms. My main My main hobby outside of music. is movies. That's like the the only I do. like I do music, and when I'm not doing. music cuz I'm It's shows in the studio, and I do that pretty much like 95% of. the time when I'm not like doing home. family stuff. And then if I've got a. spare moment, I watch movies. So, it's. Those are like my two passions. What are. your top three movies? Uh Goodfellas, Cool Runnings, and this This would be.
like I don't know if everyone would see. this, but uh I watch still watch every. single year. I think Love Actually is a. masterpiece. Every single year I watch that, and I. every single year I'm not tired of it. And those three films I could watch. anytime, anyplace. Goodfellas I'm. reading Goodfellas again at the moment. That movie just I can't ever tire of it. Cool Runnings I can't ever tire of it. Runnings. Oh, Cool Runnings is. It's a phenomenal film. It's really. really worth watching. It's kind of. humorous, heartwarming. It's not like. the Hollywood ending where.
they I'm not going to ruin it for you, but it's like It's a really really. perfect movie. Now I got to watch it. No spoilers. Um. okay, so we're going for the Batman. costume. Yeah. I'm glad this isn't going. to come out within the next 2 weeks, is. it? Oh, cuz you want to make sure you get. it. to make sure I get it, yeah. Can you give me a ballpark of how much. you're willing to spend? I would go up to six figures for it, I. think. Ed. That's like history, though. It's history. It's like, you know, someone bought the um.
um. red slippers, Dorothy's red slippers, but they spent like I think they spent. like 25 mil on them. Do you wish you had. gotten those? I have never seen The. Wizard of Oz. Yeah, it's on my list, but. as soon as I had kids, there were. certain films that I was planning on. seeing. I was like, I'll just wait to. watch them with my kids, but yeah, I've. never. never seen The Wicker Man. It's It's a great one, but. look at you. You're like ashamed. of ashamed about it, yeah. allowed to say it. No one can come for. you. You've You are a movie person. You've been busy. You're watching other.
things. That hasn't been top priority. Um does your pub have a name? Yeah, it's. called the Lancaster Lock. It's. basically my mom's maiden name and my. wife's mom's maiden name cuz they both. um. Yeah, I think I wanted to sort of. immortalize their maiden names. I feel. like even more getting married and. having daughters, it's sort of like I I. want to preserve. It's kind of weird like the old. tradition of taking names away and. having names there.
You know, our daughters have both of our. last names, and I sort of wanted to. preserve my mom's maiden name and my. wife's mom's maiden name in something. that was permanent. That is the like for. women around the world listening, everyone's going like, yeah, he's a. really great guy. Because do you know. how many men and their like toxic. masculinity can't handle the concept of. like, what do you mean you're not going. to take my last name? Or what do you. mean you're not. how I grew up though. Yeah. Cuz that I. That's the only thing that I knew. Like.
my mom had my dad's name and you know, I. come from a very large Irish Catholic. family. Sheeran was the the name, and I. think it wasn't until getting married. and having daughters where your. perception of it shifts. You have I. think you have to like you can't just be. born and just believe things. You have. to kind of experience and be brought. over. And now I very very much believe. that that should be the case that you. should obviously keep both identities. when you have children, yeah. No, I think that's beautiful. Um sorry, I'm obsessed with this pub idea. Um can.
you explain to me how many people like. are you throwing ragers in this thing? Yeah. Yeah, but I think if you're. throwing a rager, it should be like five. people. I think that's like or like 12. Five to 12 people is really good night. I do We built a chapel on our on our. land and we do like Christmas carols. there. And then after the Christmas. carols, everyone comes in for like. mulled wine and mince pies and stuff. That's like we can hold. 40 or 50 people, but it's like a crammed.
space in that. Wait, you're not singing. Christmas carols all year round. Just. you're talking about At Christmas. Yeah. Okay. I thought you were all saying no, every week we're doing Christmas or are. you? No, we do I can't Do you know it's. I I know it sounds weird to like sort of. build an infrastructure on your property. where you don't have to leave it, but I. feel like so much that. I want There's certain moments you just. want to spend with your family and not. have someone filming you while you're. doing it, especially like whether it's. something like that at Christmas or.
whether it's a memorial or so there's. just certain like intimate moments you. want to have. like that. I don't think it sounds weird. at all. I actually it's refreshing to. hear you're like. in a beautiful way. Not that you can't. complain about it, but you're like I'm. just going to take matters into my own. hands and I now have the resources and. the funds that I'm going to like build. this thing so that I can like go to my. pub and I can go to the chapel. But I I. let other people enjoy like my security. guy got married in my chapel and that. was like really lovely. Really really. lovely. So the chapel is like.
it's there. Yeah, like sign up if you. want to get married. and we'll let you come by. Um, which. celebrity would you like to invite to. the garden pub? Uh, I. had a glimpse of what a night with Post. Malone would be like with um, we hung. out in New York at Global Citizen. Festival. I actually bought him a um, I found this company that do the huge. vinyl dinosaurs that you get at zoos. You know, the ones that like the size of. buildings. So I sent him a T-Rex cuz we.
were sort of joking about it. And he was. just like, "Yeah, yeah, send me one. whenever I live here." And uh and it's. done. And it's going to arrive. And he's. going to get this [ __ ] huge T-Rex. that is just going to And I've only met. him once. So, he's just going to be. like, "What the fuck?" But I feel like. because I hung out with him for that. amount of time and I can sense the kind. of person he is, think he's going to. appreciate it. But I think he would be. the hang. I'd want I'd want a couple of. days hang with him. No, Post Malone is. like one of those people that when.
you're in a room with him, even if. you're in a room for with him for like a. couple minutes, you're immediately like, "I need 19 more hours with you. This. isn't enough.". really sweet guy. Really sweet guy. is. What is the most embarrassing thing. you can recall of just like a drunken. night, whether you're with your friends. or you're out or. said this publicly, but I'm going to say. it. I was playing a city in Europe. This. is like 2018, 2019. And my best mate was. out with his mom and his his sister. And.
we sort of started drinking espresso not. espresso, what do they call Cafe Patron? Oh, yeah. And then I went to bed and uh. I got up in the middle of night to have. a pee. Uh and I was sleeping naked. And I. walked out uh to have a pee. And then I. hear a door close and I open my eyes and. I'm in the corridor naked. No key. It's. like 4:00 a.m. And I'm like, "Oh my god, what am I going to do?". And I'm kind of looking around and as I. look around it's like CCTV, CCTV. And.
I'm like, "Ooh, this is not good." And. uh there was like room service someone. had room service and I went to go and. get the uh. napkin and I put the napkin on. Clicked uh the lift, went down to the. lobby. Bearing in mind it's like 4:00. a.m. There's like people working in the. hotel. I just kind of walk with this. thing. And I was like, "Please, can you. let me back in my room? And please, can. you not tell anyone about this?" And my. security guard went to go and wipe all. the um CCTV. Well, he told me he He it. He might have might have kept it for. blackmail later later on down the line, but yeah. Um Ed.
that's the most embarrassing thing that. I've ever done. What was the reaction of. the people standing at the front desk? It was very much sort of like. you could see their eyes widen and be. like, "You're And me going, "Please, just don't ask. Uh and don't tell anyone." Just the. thought of also like you walking down. and 4:00 a.m. those people are probably. like so not paying attention to what's. going on. They're like half asleep and. then just like Ed Sheeran walks into the. lobby naked. Holding a napkin over Yeah, yeah.
Did you wake up in the morning and like. fully comprehend what you did? Or you. Did you go back to bed easily? I went. back to bed, yeah, cuz I was like, "Nothing's going to change the fact that. that just happened, you know?" I. messaged my security guard and I was. like, "Please, can you wipe the. footage?" It's so real. I was sort of. like, "Nothing's going to change." And. also like it's a very human mistake to. Oh, for yeah, for sure, for sure. So. casual. Everyone's done that, right? No. Everyone could do that, though. True. Very true. do that. I definitely I then bought. pajamas and I started sleeping in. pajamas. Every time you're on the road, you're.
like, "Put something on my body. Just. put on. don't Do you know what? I'm sober at the. moment, so that's definitely like. helping the not doing stupid [ __ ]. How is that going? Good. I just, you. know, I saw the schedule for this year. of album release and I was like cuz I'm. I'm basically I'm flying. all around the world and then flying. home and being dad as well. And I'm. like, "I don't want to. I don't want to then add on an extra. layer of tiredness on that. So, I'm just. going to not drink and be very focused. and energized, I guess.".
That's amazing. I feel like that is a. underrated thing that when you're going. so hard with work, that you think that. you need like a drink at the end of the. night to relax you. But then I've been. feeling it recently where I'm like, "I. just wake up feeling like [ __ ] shit.". Like there's no. want to watch a movie. So, I get I I get in and I'll put on a. movie and actually that sort of does the. job cuz you kind of relax into the movie. and then by the end of it you can just. go to sleep rather than being cuz I also. find when you drink you don't ever. really have a proper sleep anyway cuz.
there's so much sugar in your body. I. have the worst sleeps and even if you. have like one drink it's still is. affecting you. Okay, maybe. maybe that's in my future. We'll see. I'm not going to be sober for forever. but I've definitely changed my. relationship with alcohol cuz I used to. drink every single day every single day. Not like I'm not a spirits guy and I'm. not really I kind of do beer a little. bit but I'm more of like a wine guy at. the end of the day. Um but now I'm not. doing that. Me and my wife do date night. once a week and I feel like that will be. the time when I do start drinking so. we'll do a bottle of wine together that.
night rather than like every single. night having to have something. I love. that for you. Call Her Daddy is brought. to you by T-Mobile. When it's time for a big juicy gossip. session with one of my friends, I need a. reliable way to get all the tea and by. tea I mean T-Mobile, okay? Having more. 5G coverage means getting 5G signal more. often and as someone who's constantly on. the go it is so nice to have a reliable. network that I can count on. Being a.
T-Mobile customer also means that I have. access to a ton of perks like concert. tickets, skipping lines at events and. free in-flight Wi-Fi so I can keep. posting from the sky. That free. in-flight Wi-Fi has been key lately. because we are trying to find my best. friend Lauren a man on every flight we. take and I have to keep the Daddy Gang. updated live with our progress. T-Mobile. also has VIP Club Magenta lounges that. offer free drinks for T-Mobile customers.
and you guys know I can't say no to a. free dirty martini. So Daddy Gang kick. your old carrier to the curb. It is time. to block their number then go and hit up. T-Mobile when you're ready to really be. taken care of. Check out the VIP. treatment at t-mobile.com/benefits. I do want to know, what do you think is. the biggest like misconception about. you? I don't really know cuz I feel like. all the all the misconceptions that are. about me.
people don't the people that don't know. me. So, I think that um. there's lots of things flying about the. the internet. There's like rumors that. also like. really gather steam cuz I think that. people want to believe them. There's all. these things that like come out and. unless I actually come out and go. these things didn't actually happen, people just run with it cuz I think they. like they people love negative. stories like that and um. yeah, I think that uh.
there's just. I think being in the public eye there's. just always always a lot of. misconceptions about you, but I think. unless someone actually knows me as a. person, they can't pass judgment on who. I am. Do you think you handle being in. the public eye well? I this has been my. life since I was 19, so I think that the. first 5 years, 6 years of my life, no. Um I really didn't and I really. struggled with it. Uh. relationships-wise, not just romantic. but just relationships in my life, friendships, family, everything like it. just everything shifted and I know.
people go um you know, when someone. becomes famous, they change, they do. this, but genuinely I didn't for the. first 3 years. I was I was exactly the. same person and everyone around me. changed just in their way of treating me. or acting or talking or like. leaking things or doing this or doing. this and then and then you start. changing and you become a paranoid. [ __ ] and then it all starts sort of. like shifting. So, I think at the. beginning it's that transitional period. where you're just trying to work out. how who you are and whether I am my.
stage name and that's me the whole time. and I'm pop star and I'm I'm this or. whether there's like two human beings. and I can be. uh you know, uh a son to my mom without. having to be a pop star or like a. husband without having to be a pop star. and then sort of like separating the two. and I think over the last since COVID. really, being at home. and separating the two and knowing that. it's quite it's a really really fun job. uh. to dip into, you know? It's really fun.
It's really fun to be a pop star for the. night and go to the Grammys and sort of. be like, "Wow, look at everyone." But. then it's important to be able to go. home and be. like a regular human being. And I think. that's why I don't live in Los Angeles. cuz I don't think I would ever switch. off. I think I'd always just be pop. star. I think that makes sense. I think. it's healthy for you to have like a good. balance. Like you're talking about being. like, "I can go work 9:00 to 3:00 and. then I go home and I'm like with my. daughters and my wife and I'm having. like a pretty normal life and then I'm. going to the pub in my backyard and then.
we're going to the lake and then we're. going to the chapel and it was a full. day and it was like. There you go. Yeah. think you have to create that world for. yourself because you're right, if you do. just keep working then you are just like. Ed Sheeran where people are thinking. you're just like this pop star and. you're mega famous and you're so rich. and then it gets to people's heads and. it's like you need to have some. semblance of normalcy. And honestly, Cherry is the biggest. grounding force. Like anytime that. anything is a little bit like a little. bit too Hollywood, she's like, "Right.". God. It's and it's really and especially.
because I grew up with her, there's. there's always just a a lens of Suffolk. over it of just like Come on, man. Like. I tried to build the bowling alley in. our in our backyard and she was just. like, "Come on, man." You don't need. that. She's like, "The chapel and the pub are. enough." Are you good at bowling? All. right. Do you like bowling? Yeah. Okay. Okay. Everyone likes. bowling. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Are you. I'll become good at bowling. I think as.
long as it's not on the property, I. think she's she's for I think she just. wants to she doesn't want our kids. growing up and it being like you know, the Richie Rich house worth. There's. literally McDonald's in the Have you. seen Richie Rich? Yes, but like so long. ago. Macaulay Macaulay Culkin. You should do something with like. movies. I didn't realize you were this. into movies. I mean, I've got a. letterboxd. No one knows I have a. letterboxd, but I do have a letterboxd. Wait. Explain. Well, I just review movies. online for myself. Just to log them.
Just to see what I've I've watched. I. have no followers on it. Like it's. literally like just log the films I. watch. And wait. What? No one reads it though. It's just. for me to like log it. Wait, why. wouldn't you let it be public? It is. public. But you no one knows it's you. What's your username? they'll find out now. Um. I think it's more fun for people for. people to find it. I've People um I. watched Gladiator II and there's a. character in it who's like the really. crazy emperor that has syphilis.
Apparently based on me. So, that is my profile picture. Is that. Is that emperor. Wait, what? I saw an. interview with him where he's like, Ridley Scott based this character on me. I don't know if I'm offended, you know. Or very complimented. Thank you very. much, Ridley. Where's my call? Cuz as a movie goer, you're like, oh my. god. Like they're basing something on. me. But then that character is like. Character was pretty uh yeah, obscene. If kind of [ __ ] crazy. Okay, wait. Would your username would we be able to.
find you? Yeah. What is it like Ed Sheeran? No, it's. like it's similar to my Instagram. It's. like Teddy I think or maybe it's Ted's. It's Ted or Teddy something. Uh-huh. Oh, I'm going to look it up. Yeah. Start Googling. What is something. embarrassing that you used to care about. like growing up when you were younger or. in your like. um early teens that you don't really. care about anymore? I think it would be like. the older that I've got in the music. industry, I think that um.
at the first like 5 years of my career. everything worked and went well. And. then the first like song that didn't. work or like flopped, I you that was. like a real like learning curve for me. Um. and I think the older I get the more I'm. like those moments are going to happen. But it's about the kind of overall. catalog that you're building. And um, I. think my rule has just always been make. music that I can stand behind. Sometimes. it'll work and sometimes it won't, but. as long as I like it that's kind of all.
that matters. Um. and yeah, I think I used to be quite. embarrassed about that when I was like. 24, 25. Cuz obviously like it's never fun. putting a load of uh work into something. that and then you put it out there on. the line and you're like this has to. work. And then when it doesn't I think. at the time there was like a. transitional. period of me sort of living with that. And now I think that I It's kind of like. what I'm saying about like these pop-ups. and stuff like that. Like my rule for.
everything now is I just have to really. enjoy it. And then. the success or not success kind of comes. secondary to that. I think that's. beautiful because I feel like also as a. creative you have to know that sometimes. you don't need extreme success to enjoy. what you're doing because sometimes as. long as you actually really believed in. it. the whole point. That's why we get into. it, isn't it? That's the whole That's. the whole point of it. And I think that. um. also it's about like realistic. expectations. I think that my.
second and third record and first to a. point, but second and third record was. so big that it's. you know, aiming for that every single. time is just not realistic. And they. both happened kind of by accident. It. just clicked. And so. it's just something will click, something won't click, something will. click. Like there there there've so many. songs in my career that I didn't expect. to do well that ended up becoming. massive over time that it's again, just. make [ __ ] you like, put it out. You have.
to give it the best opportunity. as well. You have to work every single. song the same as you worked all the. other songs and sign it so that the rest. follows. What is the song that surprised. you the most that popped off that you're. like, what the actual [ __ ]. I put out a song called Afterglow that. charted at like 92 and it was the first. time anything that I put out within. that that 10-year period had charted. outside of the top. oh. Oh my god. Uh and then over time it.
climbed to number two and ended up. having it's almost like half a billion. streams now, but it's such a like. it's such a learning curve of just like. sometimes you just got to let things sit. and then they find their audience. Um. and I close my set with that now. It's. like a really important song within my. setlist, but I remember that week being. like, oh my god. Why? Cuz did you not love it as much. when you put it out? No, I loved it. It's just like going it. when I just saw it going at going at 92, I was like, oh, maybe I'm wrong. That's a nice feeling though, right?
Yeah, definitely. Um let's talk about your tattoos. Do you. have any like what do you think of all. of your tattoos what has the best story. behind it for you? They've all got. stories really. I think my left arm is. my first five years of my career, my. right arm is kind of the next five years. and then I got my chest and back done. and my back is kind of the most recent. one. I like my I got my kids footprints like. the week that they were born, so I quite. quite like that cuz they're tiny and. obviously they're. a lot bigger now. Um. my legs have actually started being my.
kids drawing books. So my my daughter's. just done a little bunny rabbit for my. leg and you can put like the date of it. It's quite nice seeing. it. Wait, does she come up to you and be. like, "Dad, get this as a tattoo?" Or. are you like going and looking at their. drawings and be like, "Genius." And. going. Sort of that, yeah. Sort of that. Now. she's like she'll draw something and be. like, "Get it as a tattoo." But um yeah. I think I'm going to get one each for. each of them every year. Is there ever a. tattoo you've wanted to remove? I think. if I was to remove one, I'd remove all.
of them. I think that I kind of believe. that about tattoos is that you're either. a tattoo person or you're not. And I. yeah, I think if I was going to remove, I'd go completely nothing. Or. cuz I kind of see it as one tattoo. It's. like one long story, yeah. beautiful. Um okay, you and Taylor Swift. have been friends for decades. I'm a big. Swifty. What has been your favorite. memory together? That's a good one. Um. Do you know what? I I have this. uh I was in these court cases for like 2.
years. Well, they I mean it was a lot. longer than 2 years, but there was one. each year and I had to go through all my. old devices to give them like, you know, voice notes and blah blah blah. for the lawyers to have. And going. through all my old texts with people. that. I've known for that for that long. It. was really like. nostalgic going through. And I think. that the period of time that I was on. the Red Tour would have been, you know, I lived in Nashville. and she lived in Nashville and we used. to fly to and from the gigs together and. do all so- sort of I don't know. I.
literally spent almost every single day. with her for about 6 months. So I think. that period of time. um and I do, you know, I see her when I. see her. I probably see her like four. times a year and we do what what I said. like instead of catching up the whole. time, we have like proper sit-down. 6-hour catch-ups. And I think that. that's like. a really nice way to to do it. But I. think that period, yeah, 2013. Beautiful. Um okay, which of your love. songs is your wife's favorite?
Oh, uh. it's actually track 13. It's the last. track on this new record and it wasn't. it was going meant to be a tw- 12-track. album and there was this song that from. the beginning of writing it, she was. obsessed with. And she kept being like, "Is it on the new album? Is it on the. album?" And I I was just like, I'd. played it to lots of people and it. didn't have the same reaction as as. everything else. And in the end, I just. gifted it to her and I just went, "I'm. just going to put this on just for you. and you can you can name it what you. want to name it." And like, yeah, so so. that I think is her. favorite. And yeah, it just exists.
because of her, basically. Wait, that's. so sweet. Wow, that's so nice to just be. like, "Yeah, I told my husband to put it. on, so it's just for me.". It came from I spent a bit of time. working with um Bono from from U2 and he. gifted uh this song called the You know. the sweetest thing? Oh, the sweetest. thing. He gifted that to his wife. He. missed I think he forgot her birthday. and then he wrote a song for her and. then just said, "You can just have this. song." And like all the proceeds go to. like a charity of her choice and stuff. And so I had heard that story hanging.
out with him and his wife and I came. home and told Cherry that and yeah, I. think it kind of was born out of that. That is beautiful. Um you've obviously. written so many songs for huge artists. Is there any song that you wish you had. kept for yourself? No. Cuz I think that. they all have their own space and. stories and I do honestly believe that. like. a song like Little Things for One. Direction does not. exist in the same way if I sing it that. that they sing it. I think it came at.
like a pivotal point in their career and. was what it was and I think same thing. for like. I don't know. Love Yourself with Justin. I think it. came at It came after What Do You Mean. and Sorry and it was like stripped back. in the perfect point. If I'd have sung. it, it'd be the same. And Eastside with. Benny Blanco it was like Benny's first. single. I think if I'd have released. that, that wouldn't have been. Yeah, I think they all they all hold. their own. space, I guess. And if I'd have done it, maybe I wouldn't have done it properly.
Yeah. Yeah. Is there any song of yours. that you are secretly sick of playing? No. Honestly, no. And I think that it goes. back to what I was saying of like you. have to be able to stand behind it. I. think that if you if you compromise. yourself. in music to like do a certain thing like. reach a certain fan base or like. whatever and you can't stand behind it. If it if it doesn't work then you've. kind of failed in your mission because. you've made it to work and if it works.
then you have to play it for the rest of. time. So I'm very very careful that. everything that I make I have to I have. to be confident enough to sing it for. forever. And also if even if you've sung. a song 2,000 times it's always different. every time you play it with the the. crowds. So. So yeah, I'm not really sick of playing. anything really. Okay, let's break down. some of your lyrics. Okay. I'm going to give you a lyric and. you're going to tell me the meaning. behind it or. any story. Okay.
He's got his eyebrows plucked and his. [ __ ] bleached. What are you referring to Ed? Oh my god. Uh. Yeah, I do you know what? That's a song. called New Man and um. I actually haven't heard those I haven't. sung that song in years. Um. it's basically I don't know. It was a. 27-year-old's take on. that you know, like being being the. ex-boyfriend and sort of.
I don't know. I think it's beautiful. Uh yeah, I wrote. that with. Jessie Ware actually. We we we had a lot. of fun writing those lyrics cuz it was. all just kind of like throwing out stuff. that we all thought was a bit like. funny. Have you ever had an ex call you. out for writing a song about them? Of. course, yeah. Of course. But I'm a. songwriter. Like I I always say like and. I and I've dated songwriters in in the. past as well and it's kind of one of. those things that I've got to be able to. take it as well as um write it and I. think that um you know, it's the good.
and good and bad and and also like. writing songs is. it is the two extremes. It's the same. thing. you can't write a song about a. feeling that's like, "Yeah, my day was. all right today." And I kind of write. about it. It either is like, "I am the. most in love that I've ever been." or "I. am the. you know, most hurt." or whatever. It's. like the two extremes. Those those are. the things that come out and also those. are the things that connect with people. So, you know, you can listen to an artist's. songs and be and be like, "Well, they. only really they're either like they. either love someone really much or they.
hate someone." But th- those are the the. times that you write songs that actually. feel. something, you know? So, um. So, yeah, I've definitely had. I wouldn't even say arguments, conversations. Um and I think that. because I've been a songwriter since. I was 11, that anyone that I've been. romantically involved with at least. knows that. you take the good with the bad cuz you. can like they are they they will be both. sides. You will you will get both sides, you know? Would you often, back in the. day, would you just like.
press upload or were you ever giving. people a heads-up it was coming? Yeah. I've always given people heads-up. unless I haven't been in touch with them. anymore. I mean, I was obviously there's. like breakups of people you just don't. speak to anymore. But yeah, there's. yeah. I feel like I have a good enough. relationship with my exes that yeah. You. could be like, "Hey, a banger's coming. Get ready.". This one slaps. You want to hear it? They're like, "Fuck you." Yeah, [ __ ]. hell. Well. Okay.
They say I'm up and coming like I'm. [ __ ] in an elevator. I wrote that when I was 15. I was really proud of that line. It's pretty good. Thank you. It's pretty good. What headspace do you. think you were in when you wrote that? I. loved rap battles. I loved rap battles. So, I would there was I would be. watching like online. there was a couple of like leagues in. the UK. There was Jumpoff and and Don't. Flop. And those were the two that I. would like watch as a teenager. And it. was all about uh.
metaphors and similes and just saying. clever [ __ ] line after line and. punchlines and stuff. So, I would that. was. I was in a phase of writing songs where. I was just trying to fit in punchlines. And when I wrote that, it went down so. well at gigs from the age of 15 as well. Everyone's just like, "Oh, that song.". That it just kind of stayed in. It's. quite weird actually singing that song. as a 34-year-old. Mhm. Having written it. at 15 cuz you're singing it and like. this is so different to how I am now.
Even like I have lines that are like I. spit fast and I I know that all my. shit's cool. I will blast and I never. went to Brit school. And like I'm. singing it as a 34-year-old 4-year-old. dad now on stage like. Yeah, I just don't know if I believe. this anymore, you know? You're like, "Ooh, yeah. 15-year-old me, I've really grown.". it though. People love it, you know? I. but I feel like that's what's fun though. is that you still will play those type. You know what I mean? I love the fact that I close my show. with a song I wrote when I was 15. It's. like a if there it's like a kind of.
really nice full circle moment cuz I. used to play that song to no one. And. now you close a stadium with it still. It's the same song, same setup, everything. So Pretty amazing. Yeah, it's fun. Okay, um "Azizam, I want. to get lost in your ocean and drown.". This obviously is a lyric from your new. single. What are you talking about, Ed? Um I think with that song it was. uh. it kind of just all felt really really. fun and immersive. I think that's where.
the ocean thing came from is just like. immersing yourself in the night. That. line definitely had some people in my. circle being like, "Do you really need. to say drown?". Um I don't know. It's it It It sounded. good. Sometimes that's all that counts. in the studio is does it sound good? And what does Azizam mean? Azizam is uh. Farsi and it means uh my dear or my. love. Um the guy that I made the tune. with, Ilia, is Persian and we were. literally in the studio. We were just. trying different things and he was like, "Would you ever do something Persian.
influenced?" And. he just sort of led me on this journey. We've I got like footage of the moment. where he's like I'm like, "What's like. my love in Farsi?" And he's like, "Oh, Azizam." And I was like, "That's a. [ __ ] cool word." And you kind of like. it it really like. it's a it's a really fun song. It was. funny because when I was listening to. it, it's awesome, but I like hear it the. way that you sing it of like well, I'm. not even going to [ __ ] try. But like. how you kind of leave like a pause where. you like Azizam. Yeah, okay. Okay,
moving on. That was embarrassing. Did you like the songs? They're amazing. They're so good. Um okay, can we talk. about your wife though? You guys met in. high school and then you didn't start. dating until much later. How did you. reconnect? Uh I. started employing like my best mate on. tour. Um so, I kind of what I went. through. um. periods of time on tour. Like I'm a solo. artist and I don't have a band. So, and. I'm very much like I would just tour.
on my I would obviously like I have a. crew, but my crew were like 50-year-old. blokes. So, there's only so much uh. bonding you can do, I think. And I got. intensely lonely and burned out. And. yeah, I remember I had spoke to my mate. She's she grew up opposite me, Lauren. And she was she just left university. She now like works in tour management on. my tour and stuff and has been doing it. for 10 10 years, but she was very much I. guess worried about me and just came on. tour, started working on tour. And then. we were in uh New York and her sister.
was living with Cherry. And I had had uh. you know, moments with Cherry when when we were. younger. Um. and I guess like we just kind of. reconnected and picked up where where we. left off, I guess. And it. one of those things where I wasn't. really expecting it to happen. I'd kind. of just got out of a relationship. I was on tour for God knows how long and. it just felt really I was sort of like. unless I do this it I will always regret.
it. So I just sort of jumped in and. yeah, best decision I think I've made. You have two daughters. How has your. life changed since becoming a father? Very dramatically actually. Very. dramatically. I think just um. I mean even just not being a [ __ ]. maniac with. drinking drugs or or smoking or you. know, I exercise now. Never exercised. before. Um. I get up in the morning rather I used to. sleep till like 4:00 p.m. Like I'm it's. really has changed dramatically and um.
just in the way that I'm home more and. my work schedule is based around them. rather than based around me. That's incredible. Yeah. Do you sing to them? Like do they. understand? Of course. It's usually Moana. Like. It's usually just me singing Moana. Yeah, they like I have a song on the. album called Sapphire that they love. So. it's either Moana or Sapphire. Moana by. the way top [ __ ] tier Disney music. Top tier. Absolutely. Do you just like. walk around the house and sing that to. them? Yeah.
All all the songs actually. And Moana. too actually. When I went to go and see. it I wasn't like straight away enamored. with the songs and now those songs are. my favorite songs too. Which one is your favorite? Put me on. the spot here. Probably the Cheehoo. song. What does that sound like? Can I get a Can I get a Cheehoo? That. one. Who are you Who are you going to be. going to make some going to make some. history. Come on a Moana. Go get your. destiny. Mate, my children [ __ ] love it. Oh, that's good Ed. they've got the We went to go and see. Mufasa and they love the brother song.
Aw. Coincidentally same writer as Moana. one. So yeah, it's all in Manuel. Miranda. You're going to be singing it. up. Your kids are in heaven over there. They're lucky. That's nice to have. In. our hectic fast-paced lives, we could. use some slowing down. Häagen-Dazs is. made to be savored and enjoyed slowly. for a moment of slow that's just a. freezer away. Introducing new. Häagen-Dazs's Belgian waffle cones, a. crunchy waffle cone complemented by the.
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to head to my freezer after this. It is. time for a cone break. Savor your moment of slow with new. Häagen-Dazs's Belgian waffle cones. available at retailers nationwide. Right now, we have a single out. Is. there more coming? Yep, I have a. uh. My My idea was cuz the album is so. broad, I didn't want to just be like, here's the single, here's the album. So, there kind of is music coming every sort.
of like 2-3 weeks. So, there's AZ Jam. now, there's a song called Old Phone. that comes out in a couple of weeks, and. then after that there's another song. that come in. We've shot all these. videos and I I I'm less about like. single moments and more about I want. people to sort of feel the breadth of. the record and I'm very confident that. one of the songs will work. Um but it's more about just putting them. out and letting people hear. some of the record before it's out um. rather than what I've done before is. just like here's my first single, here's.
the album and yeah. How is this music. different than everything you've put out. before or is it? Uh yeah, it's. definitely different. I think I've been. more explorative with this with this. album. I've kind of had a an attitude of. why the [ __ ] not like I have not really. felt like I have to be in a box of being. a singer-songwriter of like I have to do. this or I have to do that and I I lived. in India for a little bit and worked. with a load of Indian musicians and. producers and blah blah blah. Obviously. I made a song like Azizam with Ilya. who's Persian and that's in that world.
and um Old Phone I think is more in a. Nashville country world and there's just. lots of. different moments on the record and the. the record is called Play and therefore. it has to be playful, it has to be. celebratory. I released two albums that. are kind of well one one was a sort of. main album and one sort of came off the. back of it but they were both very like. very depressing about quite hard-hitting. subjects, very muted um I still think.
they're beautiful records but I feel. like coming out of the that of having, you know, going through grief and all of. that sort of stuff coming out I needed. to have something that felt bright and. colorful and playful and that's where. doing St. Patrick's Day, playing at. Tootsie's in Nashville, doing the. New Orleans thing the whole record just. has to feel like fun and exciting. How. do you avoid writer's block? I think you just write all the time. I. think you have to I think writer's block. is actually fear of being [ __ ] rather. than. cuz I think everyone can write. You have.
to just sit down and and write. But you. have to accept that sometimes it's [ __ ]. and it's not good enough and I think. that I just write and write and write. Sometimes it's good. Sometimes it's. great. Um and sometimes it will be a. song that you you keep. And I think if. you do that year in, year out, you're. left at the end of the year with like. 10, 11 songs that are really great. And. then you can actually start forming an. album. It's really interesting to hear. you talk about like the way that you're. approaching. projects, albums essentially, but. they're projects in your brain of like. this one was like more intense. So now.
this needs to feel more fun. And like I. can feel that energy from you. Um okay, Ed. Last question. What do you want your legacy in music to. be? I would love. uh for it to seem possible to any kid. out there. that just wants to pick up an acoustic. guitar. I think that the. the thing I think the thing that's. jarring about me to people is also the. thing that creates hope. Because I am a. regular dude who picked up an acoustic.
guitar, who's not from a major city, who. made it happen by. going out there. And I would love for. all kids to go, "Fuck, I could probably. do that, too." Rather than feel like. it's an impossible thing. Um cuz it's really not. It's really not. I think that it's I couldn't sing. When. there's footage of me online. where Have you seen it? No, but now I'm. going to Google it. where I can't sing. Um I mean, we could play it We could. play it now. Wait, you can't see You. couldn't sing? It's got Type in Ed Sheeran addicted.
It's me when I'm 14 singing. But then. It's that bad? It's bad. But then I like. practiced and became. Uh you can actually just find the the. song on online. Yeah, someone leaked all. my old EPs, which I guess shows. progress. Listen to it. You can fast forward it a. little bit. I've got an intro cuz I love. I love an intro. Here we go. It's all right. You wait.
I'm addicted. Wait, you sound like little baby Ed. Wait, that's cute. Yeah, but it's not. like. it's not professional standard, is it? Oh, no. That's what I'm saying. Wait, wait, wait, we can turn it off now. Um. what I'm saying like I didn't know I. didn't know how to sing in tune and then. I taught myself how to sing in tune by. practicing. So, I. honestly when I go into talks at like. music schools and to kids and stuff, I.
always play that and go. cuz everyone just assumes that you're. born and you they you just got it and it. you can teach yourself. I taught myself. Well, I didn't teach myself how to play. guitar, but I learned how to play. guitar. I learned how to perform. I. learned how to perform in front of lots. of different crowds. I learned how to. songwrite. I learned how to sing and I'd. love my legacy to be any kid anywhere, literally anywhere, goes, "I can do. that, too.". Cuz I think that that's like music's. music is a thing that it's also.
kids that aren't good at other things. who don't have a lot of self-worth or. self-confidence. If they start music in. any form, in in poetry or singing or. instruments or even like work in a. studio or whatever, it gives you so much. like worth and confidence in yourself as. a human being and I think that in school. there's so much like. importance put on you must be good at. this subject and you must be good at. this subject to actually be a good human. being and to go out in the world and. achieve and. I just wasn't good at anything as a kid.
and I didn't have a lot of self-worth. because of that and I felt like I was. stupid and music was I was only good at. music and that became my career and I. think when I go into schools and stuff. and talk to people, I'm like, "You only. need one thing that you're good at and. then that is you for life. You find one. thing, you work really hard at it, then. that is your career." And I think that. that I would love for my legacy to be. I. think that is so beautiful and I. appreciate you bringing up the concept. of like. kids looking at celebrities and.
musicians and actors and anyone in the. arts. Like it seems like this far away. concept and you have made it feel like. achievable in a way that can be actually. like everyday motivating for a person. being like I'm one step away from my. gorgeous cover going on YouTube and. sounding like Ed and then look where you. are. no and but then not being embarrassed. about that phase of your life. Cuz. another thing that I found in my career. is I've learned everything from my. failures and nothing from my success.
It's not like I was be it was on stage. at Wembley Stadium being like I'm. learning a lot from this. I learned. everything on the way to there and I. think that what that shows is. actually failing at something is good. cuz then I learned how to sing after. then and there's so much like importance. nowadays on. you just even on social media about like. succeeding and showing you're doing well. and like not being in but like the. embarrassment of something failing or. flopping when actually all of those. thing every single artist in the world. has played to two people in a room and.
sucked. Every single and that is a. really important. stepping stone and everyone has written. songs that have released that other. people didn't like. That's an important. stepping stone. It's all about like. learning from failures rather than just. always your career just can't do this. the whole time. You can't just get. bigger and bigger and bigger, better and. better. Everything works cuz it that's. just not real life. It's about like. picking yourself up after the failures. and trying again rather than giving up. I again always say that sorry to bang on.
about education stuff but I think with. with anything it's important that when. you have that thing that you love. that you want to do, don't give yourself. a plan B cuz if you have a plan B and it. gets really difficult and starts failing. you always revert to the plan B and if. you have plan A. at all points you go this has to work. And even at the points where you fail, like I've done really terrible shows. where it it's There was a show that I. did in Exeter where it was like.
like 60 quid to get down there on a. train, but I had a rucksack full of back. CDs and I was like, "Do you know what? If I sell seven CDs, I've made my money. back and a tenner." So, all I need to do. is sell seven CDs at this gig and I got. to the gig, no one turned up. I waited. too long to see if people had turned up. and then I missed my train home and had. to sleep at the train station. And in. that moment, like 18 19, I was like, "Why am I doing this?" Like all my. friends have just gone to university, some of them have gone out to get jobs. They're actually like on their path. And. I feel like I'm not uh achieving.
anything. And in that moment, my head. just went, "But this is the only thing. you can do, so just keep doing it and. hope it will work." And I think that in. that moment, had I had a plan B, I would. have gone. "Cool, I'll just I'll go and do I'll go. and do that now." You must find that. though. I mean, you're hugely. successful. You must have just been. like, "This is going to work." I Well, I. Yes, and I relate a lot to that of not. having a plan B and then people, whether. it was like making fun of you for it or.
you feeling like, "Why am I not doing a. traditional" Like I remember being. in college and all of the girls were. taking courses that were like finance. and all that and I was like in the film. school and everyone was like, "Where is. that going to get you?" And a lot of. times I was like, "I don't know." But. those feelings it it you know in you. what you actually love. And it's the people making fun of you as. well. I feel cuz that is a huge thing. It's like it's it's so easy for other. people to like make fun of someone for.
taking a risk and and doing something. and I I actually think it comes from. like an internal thing of. when they say, "What's she doing? She. can't do that." It's actually cuz in. their own head, they can't do it and. they haven't got the thing that goes, you know, "Fuck it. I'm just going to do. this. [ __ ] what other people think. And. it's it's like almost a taking the piss. out of you for even dreaming about it. Cuz why the [ __ ] would you dream about. being successful? Like, just do do your. plan B. I think it's like almost a scary.
thing sometimes for that. And I got. mate, I had. None of my mates, even my best friends. now, none of them really came to the. first gigs I did. It wasn't until it. started like catching steam that. suddenly people were like, I'm not. saying like all my mates, but a large. amount of my mates who are now my best. friends and have, you know, have been. since since school. I had my. One of my best friends who literally. like, you know, he's godfather of one of. my kids. Uh when I was a teenager rung me up. pretending to be Zane Lowe and was like,
Zane Zane Lowe worked on Radio 1 at the. time and had this thing called Hottest. Record in the World where he would like. debut a new record of an unsigned. artist. And he rung me up pretending to. be Zane Lowe. And then all of, you know, he had all of. my other mates on the phone and they. were all laughing down the phone. And I. was like, You know, like stuff like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Ed, that is traumatizing. I was so crying. years later, guess what? I'm Hottest. Record in the World on Zane Lowe. That's so crazy. You can never let them. forget. I'm like, you old [ __ ] never.
came to my shows in the beginning. [ __ ]. you. They I mean, one my mate Zach, real one, Zach always came to the shows. Zach, there's always one. Shout out. Nick. No, I that is such a beautiful. message to leave this on cuz I can. imagine there's so many people watching. this right now that are either like. going to quit the job cuz they're not. making enough and they hate it and. they're like, I okay, I'm just going to. like not pursue it anymore and I'll just. go do what like my parents had wanted me.
to do. Or there's someone that is like. doing something in this moment that. people are making fun of them for or. they feel let down and they feel like. there's no way to actually get to what. they want. This is like I think it all. comes down to it all comes down to. enjoyment though cuz I think if you're. still enjoying what you do cuz it even. though I did that Exeter gig and no one. turned up for it. I was still playing. music that night rather than doing. something I didn't want to want to do. So I think there will come difficult. times in everyone's careers but as long. as you love what you do, you've always.
got that at the end of the day. But I'd. say if you're in a job that you don't. love. like. try and find something that you love, you know. Go for go for your passion and make it. your job if you can. Um Ed, this has. been. so fun. I wish I could talk to you for. like 10 more hours because I feel like. we could do one an entire podcast on. just movies in general. do it again. I know we could do it again. Maybe I'll. see you again. I would love to do a. movie one. I I would sit here with you. and geek out over movie cuz I'm a movie. girl, too. Like I'm full movies.
Have you seen The Florida Project? Yes. Just literally just watched that. the other night. Blew my [ __ ] mind. Anora? Of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But. I hadn't really heard of Sean Baker. before then so then I went back and did. like Tangerine and The Florida Project. and but Florida Project like I haven't. cried like that at a movie for just at. the end with the little girl I was just. like. No, he's so [ __ ] talented. Um thank. you for taking the time. I know you're. running on like two hours of sleep and. you were [ __ ] great. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
