Ed Sheeran has unveiled the music video for his recent single ‘Azizam’. Check it out below
The singer released the single, which is named after the Persian term of endearment that translates to “my dear” or “my beloved”, earlier this month.
Now, he’s shared the video, directed by Iranian-American filmmaker Saman Kesh. In the film, Sheeran is seen struggling to write a new song in the studio, before getting up to leave and falling into a lively Persian wedding.
After being bombarded with kisses and hugs from guests, helping to prepare food in the kitchen, being styled for the ceremony and then dancing to his song during the festivities, he crowd surfs back into the studio, where Iranian singer Googoosh tells him to “write a hit song.”
The track was recorded with Swedish/Iranian producer Ilya Salmanzadeh (Ariana Grande, Charli XCX, Ellie Goudling, Sam Smith), who Sheeran said he also consulted on the video concept.
“‘He said, ‘you gotta do it as a Persian wedding, that’s the best way to showcase all of the culture in a video,’” Sheeran shared via Instagram. “I found it was so similar in ways to the Irish weddings I grew up going to, but obviously so different in other ways,” Sheeran wrote, adding, “Much like the rhythms and instrumentation of the song, I find our two cultures have so much intertwined similarities. But underneath it all is love and pride.”
Check it out below.
Salmanzadeh and Sheeran wrote ‘Azizam’ after realising how much Persian and Irish folk music have in common, and how the latter could set those influences in a pop context.
“Azizam/ Meet me on the floor tonight/ Show me how to move like the water/ In between the dancing lights/ Be mine, be mine/ Azizam,” sings Sheeran on the hedonistic, technicolour single.
“Even though it’s completely different to anything that I’ve ever done before, ‘Azizam’ feels familiar to me,” the star explained. “I wanted to create a party atmosphere in a song and Ilya Salmanzadeh, who I worked with on the track, helped bring that to life. He was so inspiring to work with.”
Writing on social media, Sheeran said: “I wrote ‘Azizam’ after [Salmanzadeh] suggested trying out making music inspired by his Persian heritage and culture. I love learning about music and different cultures the more I travel and connect with people. It was like opening a door to a completely new and exciting world.
Ed Sheeran performs live. CREDIT: Simone Joyner/Getty Images
“I loved how a lot of rhythms, scales, melodies and instruments were different but similar to the Irish trad music I had grown up with. It was showing to me music connects us all, and really is a universal language.”
According to a press release, Sheeran is “stepping boldly into a fresh new phase for 2025”, having collaborated with producers and writers from across the globe on his upcoming album. ‘Play’ will follow 2023’s ‘Subtract’ and ‘Autumn Variations’.
Sheeran confirmed that his new album was “done” last month. He later debuted a new song called ‘Old Phone’ during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. As part of an interview on the US chat show, the musician revealed the titles of his next five studio records, and teased plans for a posthumous album.
“I wanted to do 10 [albums],” he explained. “I’m kind of a bit obsessed with [Quentin] Tarantino, and I heard he was doing 10 films, and he’s got his side projects like Grindhouse. I wanna do my 10 and then every now and then do a side project.”
Elsewhere, Sheeran confirmed that a new track called ‘Sapphire’ would be released in the coming months, and recently revealed that he plans to share new music every two or three weeks.
The singer-songwriter is due to play a run of European shows from May to September 2025 before finishing up the year with performances in Bhutan, India, Qatar and Bahrain.
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