After an agonizing year-long sabbatical, Ed Sheeran has returned to the world of music, releasing two singles on Jan. 6.  The new singles, “Castle on the Hill” and “Shape of You,” offer a taste of what will be on his new album “Divide,” which comes out March 3.  

“Castle on the Hill” has a very nostalgic feel. It was inspired by his break where he visited his hometown, Framlingham, Suffolk.  In the track, Sheeran reminisces on significant moments in his life, ranging from breaking his leg at 6 years old to having his first kiss at age 15, and talks about being able to see his friends again, and what happened to them once they grew up. Sheeran’s beautiful voice takes on more of a raspy, belty tone in this ballad, which is a nice break from his usual music. His brilliant songwriting ability can be seen in the lyrics, which help the listener delve deep into the song and truly appreciate the meaningful, complex music. The heartwarming result would make anybody smile, and this song can resonate with anyone ranging from a busy high schooler to an 80-year-old grandmother because of the song’s ability to take the listener back to simpler times and reminds them of when their childhood.

“Shape of You” heavily contrasts with “Castle on the Hill.” With its funky beat and lively lyrics, it’s the perfect song to play at parties, dance in your room to, or to just jam to in the car with your friends. Even though this song is different from “Castle on the Hill” regarding rhythm and style, Sheeran’s phenomenal writing skills shine once again with flowing, upbeat lyrics. This song is perfect for the radio, and highly resembles the style of “Cheap Thrills” by Sia. Sheeran’s vocals have a light and bouncy tone, which helps shape the song’s sound.

Sheeran’s choice to release “Shape of You” with “Castle on the Hill” was wise because it gave his listeners two different types of sounds to expect on his upcoming album, which comes out in a few months. These songs exceed the Ed Sheeran standard, and were well worth the wait. They have set the bar very high for the rest of his new album, and if the full album is at the same caliber as the two songs, it should be an instant hit.