Ed Sheeran: I don’t make music for critics

On his maiden trip to India, Ed Sheeran opens up on his musical influences, his songwriting approach and lure of Bollywood

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Sheeran belted out his biggest hits such as Lego House, The A-Team and Kiss Me

As Ed Sheeran, looking fetching in a blue kurta, walked on to the stage at Mahalaxmi Race Course on Sunday night, thousands of phones went up in the air, accompanied by loud cheering. The venue was swimming with thousands of teenagers, some dressed in T-shirts splattered with ‘X’ — the title of his second album — while others lined the front row, holding out placards proclaiming: “We love you”. (See Pics: Ed Sheeran parties with Bollywood’s A Listers)

Amid cheers, the singer took to the mic, belting out his 2011 single Lego House , as the crowd sang along and swayed to the music. “I’m constantly amazed by this energy, it’s magical,” he said, to a delighted audience. Alternating between an acoustic and electronic guitar, Ed Sheeran performed a mix of pop, folk, hip-hop and R&B compilations in his two-hour show. (Read: Ed Sheeran in India)

Earlier that evening, Sheeran, seated in a conference room atop the 30th floor of the ITC Grand Central hotel in Parel, admitted that he’s loving the food in India and was headed to a party hosted by Shah Rukh Khan after the concert. “I’m really excited about that because it’s a new experience for me, just to have a view into that world. I’d love to do something in Bollywood,” said the 24-year-old.

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From moving to London as a 17-year-old to making it big in the music industry, Sheeran, today, has two hugely successful albums and several platinum-selling singles to his credit. He says that he started playing the guitar at an early age and wrote songs since he was in middle school. “Growing up, I was exposed to an array of music. There was Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Elton John, Van Morrison and Bob Dylan.” Sheeran has also penned songs for One Direction and collaborated with other artistes, including Taylor Swift. His album X (read multiply), which was released late last year has already begun to rake in awards, like the BRIT Award for MasterCard British Album of the Year last week.

The turnout at Sheeran’s first concert in India, organised by Fly Music Festival, established his position as a crowd favourite. Sheeran held the audience spellbound by performing to his biggest hits — Kiss Me, The A-Team, Drunk and Give Me Love, among others. A rap song he performed — describing his many struggles, like sleeping on the streets when he first moved to London — was welcomed with loud cheers.

In an age dominated by electronic beats, Sheeran’s pithy songwriting, combined with the soothing tunes, has established a connect with the lovestruck and heartbroken alike. “All the inspirations for the songs come from everyday life and my own experiences. I try to put in as much heart as possible,” he says. His chart-busting single Don’t, released last year, was reportedly inspired from his break-up with British singer Ellie Goulding.

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Ed Sheeran’s maiden concert even caused traffic snarls in the city.

At the end as Sheeran was winding up with a rendition of I’m So Fancy by Iggy Azalea, the audience was screaming along with him while giddy teenagers clicked selfies with their backs to the stage. The heady atmosphere was, in a way, an assertion of something Sheeran had said in the interview earlier. “I’ve never made music for critics and they have never really liked my music.”

shikha.kumar@expressindia.com

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