Ed Sheeran Teaming Up With Rick Rubin & Jeff Bhasker On New Album

Bianca Gracie | September 6, 2013 10:04 am

Ed Sheeran has been working hard on the follow-up to his multi-Platinum 2011 debut, + He recently told Rolling Stone he has about 70 demos waiting to be finished and that he hopes to release three albums in the next three years. The British singer-songwriter has been working on the supposed trilogy with a pair of heavyweight producers: the legendary Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, Johnny Cash, Jay Z, etc.) and Jeff Bhasker (Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Kanye West).

Sheeran explained his experience working with Rubin, telling Rolling Stone, “Rick had an idea of me recording it completely acoustic and then adding [instrumentation later]. There are just so many tunes and so many directions to go with the album that I don’t really know.” “He’s got one beanbag [chair] in [this big room] and two speakers by the beanbag, and you sit on the beanbag and play him tunes,” Sheeran continues. “It’s completely sparse — there’s nothing in it but a beanbag and two speakers. It’s fucking amazing.”

While there isn’t a set theme for the new album, he said he’s exploring some hip-hop directions. Sheeran has been spotted in the studio with The Game and seen hanging with J. Cole and Mac Miller — not to mention his love for beatboxing! The singer is currently on the Red Tour with his pal Taylor Swift, which wraps up this month in Nashville, TN.

[via Rolling Stone]