Ed Sheeran Opens Up About Taylor Swift, Life Without a Phone, and His Ambitious One-Shot Music Special

In a recent interview, Ed Sheeran sat down to discuss his new one-shot music special, reconnecting with Taylor Swift after her engagement, and why he’s chosen to live completely offline.

Creating the One-Shot Special

The concept for the one-shot special began with a suggestion from producer Ben Winston, who encouraged Sheeran to try a concert film shot in a single take. Although Sheeran was hesitant—especially after the success of Boiling Point and Adolescence—he eventually agreed.

Once they settled on New York City as the filming location, the team quickly realized just how complicated a one-take production in the middle of Manhattan would be. But after a Zoom call with Sheeran, who was passionate about the idea, the project moved forward.

The result is a unique music experience: Sheeran walking through New York with his guitar, stopping to play for fans in pubs and on the street.

Guitars, Parties, and Family Life

Sheeran revealed that while he used to carry his guitar everywhere as a teenager, he no longer shows up to parties with one:

“I think if I did turn up with a guitar now, people would be like, ‘That’s a bit weird.’”

At home, though, he still sings—mainly for his kids. Their favorite? The Moana soundtrack. When he recently tried singing one of his new songs, his children interrupted him with, “Can you sing Moana?”

His Rain-Soaked Proposal Story

In the special, Sheeran surprises a couple getting engaged and shares his own engagement story. He admitted he engraved the date on the ring before proposing, forcing him to do it that exact day—despite pouring rain.

His now-wife didn’t want to go for a walk in the terrible weather, so eventually they sat down to watch The Simpsons, and he proposed right there.

The Loop Tour & a Secret Gadget

Sheeran also teased his upcoming Loop Tour, which he originally intended to simplify into a pure loop-pedal performance. Instead, one unexpected “gadget” has made the tour even more complex than before:

“You’ll see it on the first night… it’s impressive.”

Taylor Swift & Staying Off Devices

Sheeran confirmed that Taylor Swift once mentioned she couldn’t tell him about her engagement immediately because he doesn’t have a phone. But for him, that wasn’t a problem:

“We’re super close. We see each other when we see each other. When we do, we lock back into where we left off.”

He has now eliminated nearly all digital devices from his life—including his iPad.

Instead, he has a laptop used specifically for work. His management team sends him a single email compiling TikTok videos or social media posts he should react to. He logs in, comments, and logs off:

“Devices are running people’s lives. I want to be present. I’ve got kids. I’ve got a family.”

On AI and the Future

Sheeran believes society will eventually push back against screens and artificial intelligence:

“You can’t fake human emotion. You can’t fake the kind of conversation we’re having.”

He joked that if AI replaces reporters and actors, machines will eventually just interview each other.

Holiday Traditions

For the holidays, Sheeran looks forward to watching Love Actually and Elf with his children. He also shared a sweet tradition from his childhood: handmade advent calendars with chocolates tied onto them—something his mother still does.