Autumn Variations

Ed Sheeran released his seventh studio album, , on September 29, 2023. Produced by Aaron Dessner of The National, the 14-track project is Sheeran's first independent release under his own label, Gingerbread Man Records . Album Concept and Inspiration

Ed Sheeran - Autumn Variations - 2023 - Album: A Deep Dive into the Singer-Songwriter’s Most Personal Seasonal Record

of The National, the project is a "wilder, eccentric autumnal cousin" to its predecessor, - (Subtract)

  1. It is seasonally perfect. Listening to "Blue" on a rainy October afternoon is a transcendental experience.
  2. It shows artistic bravery. Sheeran sacrificed commercial radio play to make a quiet, murmuring album about his friends’ problems.
  3. Aaron Dessner’s production. If you loved Taylor Swift’s folklore and evermore, you will hear the same magical touch here.
  4. It rewards repeated listens. Unlike Divide, which hits you immediately, Autumn Variations is a “slow burn” that reveals new lyrical details on the 10th listen.

"Amazing"

: The most radio-friendly moment, but still subdued. It’s a love letter to resilience. After the heaviness of Subtract , this feels like Sheeran finally allowing himself to smile again.

The standard edition of the album features 14 tracks. Unlike the radio-ready singles of Divide , Autumn Variations is designed to be listened to as a continuous, cohesive body of work. Here is the full tracklist:

Autumn Variations

Just four months after the heavy, soul-baring intensity of – (Subtract) , Ed Sheeran surprised fans in September 2023 with his seventh studio album, . It marked a massive turning point in his career: his first record released under his own label, Gingerbread Man Records , and the first to ditch the mathematical symbols that defined his previous decade of music.