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Ed Sheeran 'Azizam' by Saman Kesh

Rob Ulitski - 24th Apr 2025

Saman Kesh returns to music videos and reunites with Ed Sheeran for the vibrant, high-energy promo, strong on Iranian influences and flavour, for Azizam. 

Shot like a fever dream, the video celebrates culture, movement, food and the universal intensity of human connection. It's fast-moving camerawork captures Ed as he's thrust into a variety of scenarios, encountering a cast of admirers in a gallery, UK-Iranian actor Omid Djalili in a hotel kitchen, a wedding party and legendary Iranian singer Googoosh - plus songwriter/producer Ilya Salmanzadeh, who co-wrote the song.

This breathless whirlwind of rice-infused colour and energy - which starts when Ed trips over a Persian rug in the recording studio - is a refreshing departure for the singer, while taking Saman Kesh back to his own Iranian roots in his first collab with Sheeran since Drunk in 2012.

It also echoes the director's early work in music videos for the likes of Cinnamon Chasers and Russ Chimes. Like those breakthrough promos Kesh uses the camera as a character in its own right, flipping between Ed's POV and those of his admirers. That really contributes to a brilliantly-executed vision that feels as fresh as the track. 

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Rob Ulitski - 24th Apr 2025

Tags

  • Pop
  • Performance
  • Tradition
  • Culture
  • POV

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Credits

Featured here in the credits?

Production/Creative

Director
Saman Kesh
Producer
Nicole Powell
Production Company
42 Branded
Executive Producer
Otis Bell
Executive Producer
Clancie Brennan
Production Manager
Guy Fuhrer
1st AD
James Amos

Camera

Director of Photography
Kaname Onoyama

Art

Production designer
Ricky Eyres

Wardrobe

Stylist
Liberty Shaw
Wardrobe
Natalie Humphries

Choreography

Choreographer
Charlie Mayhew

Casting

Casting director

Editorial

Editor
Emma Blackman
Editing company
Cartel Editorial

Grading

Colourist
Luke Morrison
Colour grade company

VFX

Post production company
Territory Studio

Commission

Commissioner
Dan Curwin
Label
Atlantic Records

Rob Ulitski - 24th Apr 2025

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