BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene

After ducking out of the spotlight for most of 2016, Ed Sheeran has returned.

The raffishly charming Brit dropped new music slightly after midnight – the soaring, anthemic “Castle on the Hill” and the gently percolating “Shape of You” – his first new music since 2015 (not counting his writing credits on Major Lazer’s “Cold Water” and the Justin Bieber’s Grammy-nominated “Love Yourself”).

Sheeran said in a statement: “Hello 2017! I’ve been working hard on the new material and I hope you can be as excited about it as I am. I really wanted to show two different sides to my music that I’m equally as passionate about and I just knew I wanted to roll with two songs at the same time. I’m absolutely buzzing to be back.”

The songs can be downloaded and streamed here and you can check out their lyric videos below.

Sheeran’s second album, 2014’s “x,” sold nearly 2 million copies in the U.S. and spawned the ubiquitous hits, “Thinking Out Loud,” “Photograph,” “Sing” and “Don’t.”

His new record, "÷" (pronounced "divide"), is scheduled for release this year.

Listen to "Castle on the Hill"

And "Shape of You"

About the Author

Keep Reading

Six Flags Over Georgia has traditionally held its Holiday in the Park festivities from December until Jan. 3. However, the park announced recently it will close this year and cancel its annual event. (Courtesy of Six Flags Over Georgia)

Credit: Six Flags Over Georgia

Featured

Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller