Ed Sheeran kicked off a new musical era with the release of his latest single Azizam on April 4, ahead of his highly anticipated eighth studio album. The upbeat, pop-inspired track has fans buzzing—not just for its sound, but its title.

“Azizam,” pronounced ah-zee-zam, is a Persian term of endearment that translates to “my beloved” or “my dear.” The song’s cultural influence comes from mega-producer ILYA (Ilya Salmanzadeh), who suggested blending Persian musical elements into the track. ILYA, known for hits with Ariana Grande, Ellie Goulding, and Sam Smith, co-produced the song and brought in his heritage for a fresh sound.

Sheeran shared that the inspiration stemmed from a creative session during his U.S. promotional tour, which also produced the vibrant “Pink Heart” video. This sets an exciting tone for what’s to come in Sheeran’s next chapter.