Ed Sheeran joins Fireboy DML on Peru remix

The new release, published via YBNL Nation / EMPIRE, arrives a week after Ed Sheeran announced during a chat with global music icon Elton John – on Apple Music radio show Rocket Hour – that he would appear on Fireboy DML’s song. It also adds to Sheeran’s growing roster of African collaborations, which include works with Ghana’s Fuse ODG and Mugeez.

The original version of ‘Peru’ was released in July to instant and widespread reception and has spawned numerous covers, including from fellow Nigerian artists Maleek Berry and Buju.

Detailing how the collaboration with Fireboy came about, the ‘Shape of You’ star credited SBTV founder Jamal Edwards for introducing him to the record, which Ed Sheeran has described as “an earworm”.

“He [Jamal] said: ‘Fireboy DML would love you on the remix of this song.’ This song is blowing up in Nigeria and Ghana at the moment, and their club scene runs over Christmas. So you basically put a song to the club in the middle of December, which would seem a weird thing to do in England. But, yeah, I’ve done the remix to this song… It’s an earworm, and it’s addictive. And I’m obsessed with it. I mean, Cherry [Ed Sheeran’s wife] will tell you, I’ve had this song on repeat constantly in the house for the last week.”

Produced by Shizzi, who is popular for his extensive work with the likes of Davido and Wizkid, ‘Peru’ is defined by an enduring party groove invoked by spare percussion work and ultra-fine melody.

“It has been a dream knowing Ed Sheeran is a fan of my sound and having him jump on a song that was inspired by me travelling the world,” Fireboy DML said in a press release. “Not only is this an exciting moment for me, but also for Afrobeats. I hope this is the first of many collaborations with Ed and other artists around the globe.”

Behind two LPs, Fireboy DML is expected to embark on a US tour next year in support of his sophomore album Apollo. The tour kicks off on 3 February in Providence, Rhode Island. It will also see him in Cleaveland, Dallas, New York and Houston, among cities.