<p>Ed Sheeran is stepping into his "big pop" era with the upcoming release of his eighth studio album, 'Play,' set to drop on September 12.</p>
<p>&ldquo;'Play' was an album that was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life. Coming out of all of that, I just wanted to create joy and technicolor, and explore cultures in the countries I was touring,&rdquo; the singer shared in an Instagram post announcing the project.</p>
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<p>The album will feature the Persian-influenced track &ldquo;Azizam,&rdquo; which has already become a fan favorite. Play will be released under Gingerbread Man Records and Atlantic Records.</p>
<p>While the full tracklist has yet to be revealed, pre-orders are now available through Ed Sheeran&rsquo;s official <a href="https://www.edsheeran.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>.</p>