Ed Sheeran, the internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter, recently shared that he identifies culturally as Irish, despite his English upbringing. Born and raised in Suffolk, his connection stems from his father’s Belfast roots.
“I class my culture as Irish. That’s what I grew up with,” he explained on The Louis Theroux Podcast. “My dad’s family—he has seven brothers and sisters—we spent all our holidays in Ireland. My earliest musical memories are from Ireland; I grew up with traditional music in the house. So, I identify culturally as Irish, but I was obviously born and raised in Britain.”
He further elaborated, “I don’t overthink it, but I’m truly proud of this cultural heritage and want to express it. Being born in Britain doesn’t dictate my sole identity; many people I know have mixed backgrounds.” He added, “There are no hard and fast rules; it’s about how you feel, your upbringing, and what resonates with you.”
Regarding his reception in Ireland, Sheeran stated, “It’s practically my second home, musically. I’d say Ireland is where I’ve achieved the most musical success.”
Sheeran also discussed the challenges of fame, particularly concerning his family. While he accepts the public eye as part of his profession, he emphasizes his wife and children’s right to privacy. “I’m very private about my children’s image… I can’t take them to zoos or parks without someone trying to film them. I miss those normal aspects of life. My kids didn’t sign up for this,” he shared.
He also addressed his travel choices, explaining his preference for commercial flights for environmental reasons, while acknowledging occasional exceptions for demanding promotional tours. “We flew Ryanair from a gig in Italy last year, and all my fans were on the same flight! I like the environment, I like trees. It’s a balance; no one’s perfect,” he told Theroux.
Reflecting on his music career, Sheeran confessed, “Writing songs and performing are my two professional joys. Releasing music, however, is stressful. You love the songs so much, and then you put them out there, and that can affect your relationship with them if others don’t like them. I try to avoid letting that happen.”
He also offered perspective on his relationship with success: “I feel like I peaked with Divide, and I’m coasting now. I don’t know if I’ll reach those heights again, but that level of fame was my unhappiest time. I’m much happier with the balance I have now.” His eighth studio album, Play, a pop album, is slated for release in September, following two acoustic albums released in 2023.
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