Dhaka, April 5 -- Ed Sheeran has released his latest single, Azizam, a vibrant and danceable track influenced by Persian music, marking the first release from his forthcoming eighth studio album, Play.

Dropped on Thursday, the song was produced by Ilyah Salmanzadeh, known for his work with artists like Ariana Grande, Charli XCX and Tate McRae. Sheeran shared on Instagram that the idea for the song stemmed from Salmanzadeh's suggestion to draw inspiration from his Persian heritage. The title, Azizam, translates to "my dear" in Persian.

Alongside the single, Sheeran released a "Pink Heart" video, featuring footage shot across the United States during recent promotional events. He hinted at an upcoming "official" music video but has yet to...