Grammy-winning singer Ed Sheeran has revealed the surprising reason behind his decision to stop using a mobile phone — a move that ultimately inspired one of his latest songs.
While addressing fans during his Loop Tour performance at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, Sheeran spoke candidly about how a legal battle reshaped his relationship with technology and communication.
Back in 2015, Sheeran was embroiled in a copyright lawsuit that accused him of copying elements of Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye. Although the court ultimately ruled in his favour, confirming that he had not copied the track, the process itself proved to be life-altering.
As part of the investigation, Sheeran was required to hand over his electronic devices for examination — including years of personal messages and files. The experience left a lasting impression on him.
During the Sydney show, he joked that he was relieved there was “nothing weird” on the devices, but admitted the situation fundamentally changed how he approached communication.
Sheeran revealed that he switched off his phone during his 2015 Australian tour and never turned it back on. Instead, he chose to communicate via email — a habit he maintains to this day.
When investigators later requested access to the device as part of the lawsuit, powering it up felt like stepping back in time.
He described the moment as surreal — revisiting conversations dating back to 2015 and even earlier years felt like opening a digital time capsule. The experience, he said, was emotionally overwhelming.
Rather than letting the ordeal weigh him down, Sheeran channelled it into creativity. The experience inspired Old Phone, a track from his upcoming album Play, which he recently performed live.
For Sheeran, songwriting remains his way of processing both positive and negative experiences.
He shared that whenever something difficult happens, he writes about it — transforming emotional highs and lows into music. According to him, some of his best songs emerge from challenging moments.
Sheeran’s story highlights how even stressful experiences can spark artistic inspiration. What began as a legal challenge ultimately led to a personal reset — and a new perspective on communication and creativity.
In true singer-songwriter fashion, he turned adversity into art — proving once again that sometimes, the toughest chapters can create the most meaningful music.
