From Ed Sheeran to the Lumineers: The Records of the Week
It will be a New Music Friday dedicated to Anglo-American singer-songwriters, on Friday 27 September, and to two names considered undisputed protagonists of the genre, albeit in different ways. On one side Ed Sheeran, the pop minstrel who started from Halifax to conquer stadiums and mega arenas.
On the other hand, the Lumineers, the band that redefined the Americana genre with hits like “Ho hey” and “Ophelia”. The red singer-songwriter of “Thinking out loud” releases “+-=÷× (Tour collection)”, while the Colorado folk rock band led by Wesley Schultz releases its first ever live, “Live from Wrigley Field”. Among other releases to note, that of the new album by Sophie and the revelation of the last edition of X Factor Anna Castiglia.
Ed Sheeran – “+-=÷× (Tour collection)”
“+-=÷× (Tour collection)” brings together some of Ed Sheeran’s greatest songs to date from the decade-long era of “math” albums, which helped make the ginger-haired Halifax singer-songwriter an era-defining artist, selling nearly 200 million records worldwide.
The common thread is love: “I feel like love songs are a huge part of my career and who I am as an artist. They’re the songs that connect with people for life, because they’re woven into key memories in people’s lives, that I never take for granted and I’m super honored to be the soundtrack to such huge moments. I’ve loved compiling all these love songs that I’ve released over the last 13 years.” After kicking off his record-breaking ‘Mathematics Tour’ in Dublin in 2022, Sheeran has taken his blockbuster show around the world, racking up 133 shows. With another show this month in Rio De Janeiro, Sheeran has announced another series of European shows for 2025 as part of the final leg of his ‘Mathematics Tour’, as he continues to break records and make history.
Anna Castiglia – “I like it”
After participating in X Factor in 2023 and releasing a few singles over the past year, Anna Castiglia is ready for her first album “Mi piace”, which will be released on Friday, September 27. The album oscillates between moments of lightness and depth, going from reflections on nostalgia and relationships gone wrong to light social criticism. Musically, it ranges from pop and r&b to samba, swing and gypsy influences, creating a rich and varied soundscape. “More than an album, in terms of concept it can be defined as a collection or, even better, a playlist, because there is no concept behind it but the varied coexistence of distant and different songs, both in terms of musical genre (ranging from Latin, to pop, to singer-songwriter) and for the period in which they were born”, said the singer.
Sophie – “Sophie”
Scottish producer Sophie (Sophie Xeon) was finishing her second album at the time of her untimely death following an accident, and it will now be released posthumously by her label, Transgressive, on September 27. She is one of the musicians who has left the greatest mark on her time. This release, preceded by the single “Reason Why” featuring Kim Petras and BC Kingdom that longtime fans will remember playing at her shows, is a gift to all her supporters who have been deprived of a point of reference whose last release dates back to 2018’s “Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides”.
Lumineers – “Live from Wrigley Field”
Anyone who has been to a Lumineers concert knows what we’re talking about: It’s in live performances that the band led by Wesley Schultz gives its best, turning each performance into a truly memorable experience for fans. “Live from Wrigley Field” is the first live album in a nearly two-decade career for the group. The album was recorded on September 3, 2022, at the historic Wrigley Field in Chicago, during the final night of the critically acclaimed “Brightside World Tour”, the two-time Grammy Award-nominated band. “Live From Wrigley Field” sees the band take the 41,000 fans in the stands on a journey through 25 hits, the most iconic songs in the group’s catalog.
