Album X Ed Sheeran -

Released on , Ed Sheeran's sophomore studio album, x (Multiply) , stands as the definitive turning point of his career. Following the success of his 2011 acoustic debut, + (Plus) , x was a high-stakes musical gamble. Sheeran needed to prove that a solo loop-pedal artist from Suffolk could transition into a stadium-level global superstar.

Fate had other plans. Between 2021 and early 2022, Ed Sheeran’s life collapsed into a perfect storm of tragedy. His best friend, Jamal Edwards, died suddenly of a drug overdose. His wife, Cherry Seaborn, was diagnosed with a tumor while pregnant with their second child. Simultaneously, he was engaged in a grueling copyright lawsuit over "Thinking Out Loud." album x ed sheeran

The "Divide" era saw Sheeran conquer every corner of the globe with a diverse, globe-trotting sound. Released on , Ed Sheeran's sophomore studio album,

A large portion of the album was written while Ed was on the road opening for on her Red Tour. He spent his downtime in a tour bus or hotel rooms, writing over 120 songs for the project [2, 5]. He eventually narrowed these down to the final tracklist, focusing on "multiplying" the experiences he’d had since his debut. 3. Personal Turmoil and "Don't" Fate had other plans

The "Plus" Era marked the arrival of a relatable everyman with a loop pedal.