Mumbai: Global music sensation Ed Sheeran has expressed his deep admiration for Bollywood singer Arijit Singh's voice, revealing that he starts his mornings by listening to a special version of their collaborative track "Sapphire" with his daughters.

Sheeran and Singh have released a unique rendition of "Sapphire," a vibrant summer track that showcases a cross-cultural fusion of languages and musical styles. Ed Sheeran shared that the journey to create this song was one of the most memorable experiences of his career. He recounted a 24-hour "pilgrimage of music" to Jiaganj, Azimganj, with his father to meet Arijit Singh.

Their encounter involved a boat ride, conversations, shared meals, and coffee. In the studio, Singh taught Sheeran how to sing in Punjabi and introduced him to the Sitar. The unique collaboration also included a late-night scooter ride, during which they listened to "A Prayer By The River" and discussed music.

"I love this version of the song; it's the one I listen to every morning with my daughters because I love Arijit's voice, tone, flow and rhythm. I hope you feel the same way I do about it. Thank you, Arijit, for your time, grace and talent," Sheeran praised.

The special version of "Sapphire" features Arijit Singh singing a verse in a blend of Hindi and Punjabi, and a chorus in English, while Ed Sheeran performs a chorus in a mix of Hindi and Punjabi. Both the original version (released last month) and this remix incorporate intricate South-Asian percussion and were produced by Ilya Salmanzadeh, Johnny McDaid, and Savan Kotecha during their studio sessions in Goa.

Ed Sheeran's new album, 'Play', is set to be released on September 12, 2025.

With inputs from IANS