Divide (aka ÷) is Ed Sheeran‘s third studio album, released on March 3, 2017. Twelve tracks confirm the musician’s songwriting ability to pen the tune and move the listener.

The singer-songwriter’s career exceeded expectations. But after years of success and the need to please everybody, the singer decided to take a break.

With his personal life got a bit pout in the back burner, 2016 became Ed Sheeran’s hiatus from his professional life.

He unplugged from all the social media and got rid of his phone using just emails. He traveled, enjoyed domestic life, and focused on new songwriting.

Divide was born during the break. The artist put everything back together and found new energy. As he said: “not writing for a bit helps, it lets the well refill”.

The real gift lies in the writing

The album tells different stories and it goes from rap to pop, traditional Irish folk, and classic ballads driven by the inseparable guitar.

Each song is tied up together by the same idea though being understandable by everybody.

Shape of you was the first single and an immediate hit. Originally written for Rihanna, Sheeran’s entourage convinced him to keep it and add it to the album.

The real bet was Galway Girl, a blend of fiddles-Irish folk tradition and the singer’s acoustic pop. Sheeran had to fight to get the track on the album being sure that the collaboration with the folk group Beoga would have lead to success.

The album doesn’t lack classic ballads, Sheeran’s brand.

Some people think that they are often too cheesy romantic or nostalgic, but they indeed go straight to the earth of the listener with relatable and bittersweet lyrics.

Perfect is a love song dedicated to his wife and later re-recorded with Beyoncé and Andrea Bocelli. It was recorded with a live orchestra and shown in the documentary Songwriter presented at the 2018 Berlin Film Festival.

From underdog to a source for many artists

The innocent-uncool image can be misleading. Sheeran has a very well knowledge of the music industry and knows what he wants. He writes songs and wants them to be heard by the whole world, aiming to “be even bigger than Adele”.

From busking on the streets of London he landed writing, co-writing and producing many tracks for singers such as Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Major Lazer, Eminem, BTS and many more.

Divide is the album that has most shifted the musician’s career, winning the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop solo performance.

It is currently the peak of his songwriting, as he said, setting the path for big and fruitful collaborations.

Not knowing what the future brings, one thing is sure. There is no lack of Ed Sheeran, whether the fans want to see him on stage or listen to his lyrics and music.