Ed Sheeran has co-written "Animal," the new single from KATSEYE, the K-pop group currently enjoying a breakout run in the charts. The British singer announced his involvement in the track a few hours before the story was published.
Sheeran said he heard KATSEYE's song "Gnarly" last year while he was in Mexico and loved it. He said he told people he was a fan and contacted the group to ask whether he could write a song for them. He said the result, "Animal," was created together, and he encouraged fans to listen to it, adding that he hoped everyone would like it.
A video accompanying the announcement shows Sheeran with several members of the group writing the lyrics to "Animal" and recording a demo, gradually layering in instrumental parts. It then shows the group's members learning the song and recording it themselves in the studio, before closing on a short clip from the finished music video.
A veteran songwriter for other stars
Beyond his own catalogue of hit melodies, Sheeran has built a long career writing lyrics for other artists. He co-wrote "Dai Dai" for Shakira, and also had a hand in "Zoo," the song the Colombian singer performs in the film "Zootropolis."
He also co-wrote "Love Yourself," the well-known Justin Bieber ballad. Sheeran had originally planned to keep the song for himself and include it on his own album, "Divide," but ultimately gave it to Bieber, and it went on to become a worldwide hit. Following that success, Sheeran teamed up with Bieber again to write "Cold Water," produced by the electronic music project Major Lazer and featuring vocals from Danish singer MO.
Lesser-known collaborations
Among his less widely known creative partnerships is his work with Ariana Grande. The pair combined their talents to write and perform the duet "No Love For The Lonely." The song was never officially released on an album, but it remains a well-loved track among fans.
His connection to One Direction produced two of the boy band's most iconic ballads, "Little Things" and "18." The story behind "Little Things" is notable: Sheeran co-wrote it with singer-songwriter Fiona Bevan when they were both just 17 years old. The song sat forgotten for years until it was revived in 2012 and given to the group, becoming a number one hit worldwide. He later repeated the formula, writing "18" with Oliver Jacobs for the band's album "Four."
Sheeran also had a hand in "2002," the well-known song by Anne-Marie, which he co-wrote with the singer who ultimately performed it. The track became one of the biggest pop hits of 2018.
Beyond these songs, Sheeran has also contributed to compositions for artists including Benny Blanco, Liam Payne, BTS, Little Mix, Nicki Minaj, The Weeknd, Zara Larsson, James Blunt and Shawn Mendes.
