Global pop sensation Ed Sheeran has pulled back the curtain on his cross-cultural collaboration with Indian playback legend Arijit Singh, offering fans a heartfelt glimpse into the making of his latest single, “Sapphire.”
The track, a vibrant fusion of Western pop and Indian classical influences, dropped with a music video that captures the spirit and beauty of India, featuring Singh contributing sitar and vocals—and even teaching Sheeran a few lines in Punjabi (“ਚਮ-ਚਮ ਚਮਕੇ ਸਿਤਾਰੇ ਵਰਗੀ” which translates to “They sparkle just like stars.”)
Sheeran described “Sapphire” as his favorite song from his forthcoming album Play, and took to Instagram to share the personal journey behind the collaboration. He revealed that his admiration for Arijit Singh began years ago, recalling, “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.” After discovering Singh’s music, Sheeran reached out with an open invitation to collaborate, telling him, “Whenever you wanna sing together I’m down”.
Their creative connection deepened when Singh performed in London and Sheeran joined him onstage to sing his blockbuster hit song “Perfect.” “It was an incredible show,” Sheeran remembered. Backstage, Sheeran played Singh an early version of “Sapphire.” “He instantly had ideas for instruments and melodies,” Sheeran wrote. “We then were pen pals over email for a bit, until I was in India for tour.”
During his visit, Singh invited Sheeran to his hometown in West Bengal to finish the song together—an experience that became a cherished memory for both artists. Sheeran, who was accompanied by his father, described the trip as a rare opportunity for father-son bonding. “Me and him got a flight to Kolkata, then a 5 and a half hour drive to his home town. 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,” Sheeran shared.
“Arijit taught me Punjabi and how to pronounce it all properly, and showed me Sitar. We then had dinner, and scooted around the village to see the sunset and moon with my dad. Was a proper core memory I’ll always cherish with my father, and I’m honoured to have created in this way with Arijit.”
Reflecting on the collaboration, Ed Sheeran called Arijit Singh “one of the most talented humans I’ve ever met,” and expressed gratitude for their partnership. He also teased fans with news of an upcoming full Punjabi version of “Sapphire,” promising to share behind-the-scenes videos in the weeks ahead. “The full Punjabi version we recorded will be out in a couple of weeks, but until then I’ll be drip-feeding fun videos from our time together. Enjoy!”
“Sapphire,” already a global hit with over 18 million views in its first three days, stands as a testament to the power of cross-cultural collaboration and the deep friendships forged along the way. Watch below:
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