Ed Sheeran Reveals How Arijit Singh Inspired Their ‘Sapphire’ Collaboration
Ed Sheeran, who released his new track “Sapphire” three days ago, posted an emotional note on Instagram recounting the journey that led to his collaboration with Arijit Singh.
Along with a video of the two riding a scooter through the streets of West Bengal, Ed shared the story behind their song.
“I first became aware of @arijitsingh music when I watched Aashiqui 2 and heard Tum Hi Ho. I was proper spellbound by his voice, the song, the scene in the movie,” Sheeran wrote.
Captivated by Arijit’s performance, Ed reached out to him, expressing his desire to collaborate. When Arijit performed in London, Ed joined him on stage to sing “Perfect” at his concert, calling the experience “incredible.”
The Birth of “Sapphire”
It was during this meeting in London that Ed introduced Arijit to an early version of “Sapphire.” Sheeran wrote, “He instantly had ideas for instruments and melodies.” The two stayed in touch via email, continuing to share creative ideas for the track.
The collaboration took a personal turn when Ed was touring India with his father.
“We then were pen pals over email for a bit, until I was in India for tour. I said to him, we should finish this in person, and he said, please come to my home town so I can show you my home and culture,” Ed shared.
A Journey to Remember
Ed and his father flew to Kolkata, followed by a five-and-a-half-hour drive to Arijit’s hometown.
Sheeran recounted their memorable day: “We arrived, went on a barge down the river which was stunning, then got a scooty back to the studio where we finished the song.”
During their time together, Arijit taught Ed Punjabi and helped him with pronunciation. He also introduced Ed to the sitar.
The bonding didn’t stop there. “We then had dinner, and scooted around the village to see the sunset and moon with my dad,” Ed wrote, calling it “a proper core memory I’ll always cherish with my father.”
Mutual Admiration and a Musical Gift
Ed Sheeran expressed his deep admiration for Arijit Singh, writing, “He’s one of the most talented humans I’ve ever met, and I’m so grateful he shared his talent with me for this song.”
The British singer-songwriter also revealed that a full Punjabi version of the song will be released in the coming weeks. “Until then, I’ll be drip-feeding fun videos from our time together. Enjoy!” he added.
Sapphire’s Immediate Success
“Sapphire,” released on June 5, has already garnered over 15 million views within three days.
The track marks the third release from Ed Sheeran’s upcoming album, “Play,” following “Old Phone” and “Azizam.” The song features Ed singing in Punjabi, adding a unique layer to the global collaboration.
A Deep Connection
In the Instagram post, Ed emphasized how significant the experience was for him personally.
“Was a proper core memory I’ll always cherish with my father, and I’m honoured to have created in this way with Arijit,” he said, showing just how meaningful the entire process had been, not just professionally but emotionally.
Looking Ahead
The journey that started with a Bollywood film song evolved into a unique collaboration blending English and Punjabi music styles.
With a heartfelt backstory and the involvement of two globally celebrated artists, “Sapphire” is not just a song but a cultural bridge. Fans now eagerly await the Punjabi version, as Ed continues to share more behind-the-scenes moments from his time in India with Arijit Singh.
