Ed Sheeran, one of the most famous contemporary musicians, a recipient of numerous awards and the author of iconic hits, is participating in a musical project for the sports drama F1, created by director Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick).
The plot of F1 tells the story of Sonny Hayes (played by Brad Pitt), a former Formula 1 driver whose career ended after a tragic accident. Time passes, and he gets the chance to return to the world of racing to settle his unfinished business. The film was shot at real Grand Prix events, featuring stars like Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, and composer Hans Zimmer. The film's soundtrack has already become a true cultural phenomenon.
Interview
Asel: Have you ever thought that your songs could bring someone to tears in Kyrgyzstan at three in the morning?
Ed Sheeran: I never thought about that. I come from a small farming village in the UK. My dream was to perform in London, and I never imagined I would be able to play in other countries where English is not the primary language.
That's why I love touring so much — it's an opportunity to see places I never even dreamed of. Traveling with music and the chance to explore different cultures is incredible.
I really want to visit your region.
Asel: You must come! Formula 1 is a world where risk and glory are separated by just a moment. When you were writing the song for this film, did you draw on personal experiences where slowing down was more dangerous than speeding up?
Ed Sheeran: No, not really. The only thing that resonates with me is the process of writing the song itself. But the composition is more connected to Sonny's story and the plot of the Formula 1 film. My personal experience in it is minimal, as it is primarily a song for the movie.
Asel: You’ve come a long way from crashing on friends' sofas to playing in big stadiums, yet your songs remain sincere. How do you maintain that sincerity so that the music doesn’t become “polished”?
Ed Sheeran: I don’t know. Maybe I’ve written a lot of “polished” songs for stadiums, but they were never released. I create a lot of music, and some of it is just terrible. It’s a process of trial and error.
But the songs I choose to release are the ones I truly believe in and that resonate with me the most.
Asel: Is creating music for a film something special compared to regular songwriting? What comes first: the idea, the lyrics, the melody?
Ed Sheeran: It depends. In most cases, the music, the melody comes first, and then the lyrics. For example, when I wrote I See Fire for The Hobbit, the music came first. The lyrics are important, especially when it comes to a song for a film. You watch the movie, capture the details, and then integrate them into the song. So yes — the music comes first.
Asel: Thank you very much!
Ed Sheeran: Thank you!
Asel Sherniyazova is the co-founder and managing director of the Asian Film Festival in Los Angeles and a representative of AKIpress on the advisory board of the Golden Globe Awards.
