An open letter to Ed Sheeran

Dear Ed,

Being a fan of hip-hop for as long as I can remember, there could not have been a better song than "Sing" for me to get introduced to your oeuvre. Before I knew it, I was listening to the entire album on repeat and recommending your music to my friends. We knew the lyrics to each and every song on "Multiply (x)" like the back of our hands and jammed to it in the middle of classes, during recess and even used up our parents' phone credit on weekends to sing duets.

Rarely, do I come across an album like "Multiply (x)", which fills me with such incomparable zeal that I become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans have listened to that album.

Although I am nowhere as phenomenal as you are with a guitar, I played "Photograph" during our rag-day and it is, by far, one of my best memories. I was lucky enough to feel a fraction of what you feel when people sing along to your songs. The synchronicity brought order within the chaos of life.

For almost half my life, your music has accompanied me through all the highs and lows. In fact, I align my memories with which album of yours I was invested in at the time.

I am a socially awkward person but it's elating to me how I confidently sing "Galway Girl" and ballads like "Tenerife Sea". Your lyrics always coalesce into memorable songs that perfectly sum up and encapsulate our feelings. As an aspiring writer myself, I can only hope that my words on page are as fearless and raw.

I lost my grandparents when I was really young. When I first heard "Supermarket Flowers" and "Afire Love", it brought all those emotions from yesteryears back and carried my heavy heart through lonely days.

My friends and I had a sleepover on the day your album "Equals (=)" was released because we wanted to share the joy of listening to another one of your masterpieces. We laughed, cried and danced to the songs.

My dad and I adore "Overpass Graffiti" so much. I even made him listen to the 8D version on my headphones and boy, I wish you were there to see the delightful expression on his face. We also watched your Tiny Desk Concert which is something we have been looking forward to for years other than going to your concert.

Discovering your songs beyond what's released on the radio led me to a treasure trove. Listening to "Cold Coffee" and "Firefly" not only takes me back to my younger days, but also makes me feel like it's this little secret of yours that I know but not many people do.

With "Loose Change", you reinvented loving music and became a kaleidoscope of wonders that never ceases. I know it has not been easy for you to make a name for yourself in the industry. The persistence and tenacity with which you pursued your passion is something that ignites inspiration in me.

Thank you for writing, for pushing the boundaries and letting us feel seen through your songs, for helping us get through some rough patches and for teaching us how to love someone the right way.  

To me, you are an artiste like no other. It is your music to which I listen most often and I am forever enchanted by what I hear.

Yours Truly,

Shaniz Chowdhury