Entertainment

Pen Pals to Studio Mates: Ed Sheeran Says How “Tum Hi Ho” Sparked Friendship & “Sapphire” Collab With Arijit Singh

Global pop sensation Ed Sheeran has released his new track “Sapphire,” featuring Indian vocal powerhouse Arijit Singh and a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan. Sheeran recently revealed the song’s backstory, explaining how his admiration for Singh’s voice in the Bollywood hit Aashiqui 2 ignited their creative partnership.

In an Instagram post sharing a clip of Singh singing Punjabi verses while driving him through West Bengal, Sheeran wrote: “I first discovered @arijitsingh’s music watching Aashiqui 2 and hearing ‘Tum Hi Ho.’ His voice completely spellbound me.” The British star recounted reaching out directly: “I got in touch and said, ‘Whenever you wanna sing together, I’m down.’”

Their collaboration began when Sheeran guested at Singh’s London concert for a duet of “Perfect.” Backstage, Sheeran played an early “Sapphire” demo, prompting immediate creative input from Singh. The duo then became “pen pals over email” until Sheeran’s India tour provided a chance to finish the track in person.

Singh personally invited Sheeran to his hometown, where the “Shape of You” singer traveled with his father—calling the rare bonding experience “a proper core memory.” After a 5.5-hour drive from Kolkata, they recorded vocals on a river barge, explored the village by scooty at sunset, and Singh taught Sheeran Punjabi pronunciation and sitar techniques.

Sheeran praised Singh as “one of the most talented humans I’ve ever met,” confirming a full Punjabi version of “Sapphire” will release in weeks. He plans to share more behind-the-scenes moments from their cross-cultural collaboration soon.

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