Ed Sheeran is considered one of the most famous musicians in the world today. However, before hitting fame overnight, this incredibly talented and down-to-earth singer from West Yorkshire, England, led a very different life. He used to be completely anonymous, with nothing but his dreams and intense passion for music driving him towards his goals.
Today, Ed Sheeran boasts a well-reputed music career – releasing plenty of chart hitting songs, generating massive album sales, and garnering numerous Grammy awards. Given his immense success, it is easy to imagine Ed Sheeran’s path to stardom was a smooth journey throughout, but that could not be further from the truth. However, despite the numerous obstacles he has faced, he never gave up on his musical dream. Let us share some of the most inspiring facts about Ed Sheeran you might not be familiar with.
His love for the guitar got him into music
Ever since he was a child, Ed Sheeran already knew he wanted to become a musician – the talented singer considers music to be his first love. Notably, it was his love for the guitar that first got him into music and singing. At four years old, he became a part of a church choir, and it was there that he learned how to play the guitar.
Over the years, he has continued to learn and practise his craft, and at the age of eleven, he was already writing his own songs. This interest in songwriting was inspired by a backstage conversation with the Delicate singer, Damien Rice. As Ed Sheeran’s talent grew, he began to showcase his skills to a broader audience by auditioning for plays and performing in school events. His classmates even voted him as someone who was “most likely to be famous” – and it turns out they were not wrong.
He used to have severe speech problems
Despite his burgeoning talent, the road to stardom was not always a kind one to Ed Sheeran. He used to be bullied every day at school because of his stutter and lazy eyes. These conditions were the results of an unsuccessful surgery that the singer had as a kid. In fact, his severe speech problems made him a notorious target for bullies at school. Whenever he tried speaking up in class, his mouth would freeze, and his classmates would then mock him, which caused him to develop social anxiety issues.
However, it was through music that Ed Sheeran started overcoming his social anxiety. Amazingly, his stutter would go away whenever he began singing. He always felt in control when it comes to music, allowing him to control his anxiety issues better. This is why he loved singing in his local church and playing the guitar in his room as a child.
He experienced homelessness while pursuing his music career
Soon enough, Ed Sheeran realised that music was his calling. After overcoming his speech problems and social anxiety, the ginger-haired musician from England started performing in several different venues. This went on for four years until he finally decided to kickstart his official music career. At fourteen years old, he packed his bag, took his guitar, and went to London to seek new opportunities.
However, the beginning of his musical journey was far from a fairy tale. The singer was homeless for two and a half years while pursuing his music career in London. When he could not find a place to rest at night, he would sleep in a park or the subway. There were even days when he did not have any money for food. The hardship he endured during this period almost made him give up on his dreams, but thankfully, he persevered.
Social media helped him achieve stardom
For years, Ed Sheeran worked hard to carve a name for himself in the music industry. He performed in various small venues, produced his music, released albums, auditioned, and did collaborations with several singers he met along the way – all in the hopes of catching the attention of a famous music producer. However, it was ultimately through the help of social media that he managed to attain his success.
Ed Sheeran recognised the potential of social media platforms, and he began posting his videos online, hoping to harness the power of social media to boost his music career and widen his audience. One day, his video managed to catch the eye of the rapper Example, who adored Ed Sheeran’s music style and invited him to tour with him.
This one career-changing moment helped Ed Sheeran increase his online presence. More and more people started watching his YouTube videos, leading to increased media attention on him. As his popularity grew, Ed Sheeran was snapped up by Asylum/Atlantic Records in 2011, which helped him release his debut studio album “+”, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Conclusion
Ed Sheeran’s journey to stardom is indeed one for the books. His unusual story is filled with inspiring facts and events that prove how success heavily favours those who work hard and embrace their talent. Despite the obstacles he has faced, Ed Sheeran never gave up, and he has now managed to become one of the most popular and successful musicians in the world.
Has Ed Sheeran’s story inspired you to pursue your musical dream as well? If so, you should consider signing up for a music course to hone your burgeoning musical talent. At Studio72, under the guidance of our qualified instructors, you can learn the proper techniques to develop your musical skills.
