by VANESSA DELGADO//Staff Writer

Ed Sheeran has become a very well renowned singer and songwriter since the debut of his first album.

Even though the artist is from the United Kingdom, he has made himself quite popular in the United States. With each new album, his group of fans becomes greater.

Sheeran can put anyone in a trance with a simple strum of his guitar. He started playing at a very young age, and that set him on a path for greatness. His popularity has gained him much fame and fortune, which he clearly deserves.

Some artists sound very different in person and are clearly not as talented as you once thought. That is definitely not the case with Sheeran. He even goes a step farther at his concerts. His voice may be enough for some fans, but many fall in love with his guitar playing skills as well. At many of his concerts, he goes above and beyond. To play every song, he uses only his voice and guitar to add different beats on a loop to create the beat of each song. It is very surprising to see an artist do something so unique and talented and to go onstage completely solo throughout an entire concert.

He has recently come out with two new songs. “Shape of You” became a hit right from the start. Its upbeat chorus is an instant mood changer and will have anyone dancing to the beat. The song was originally composed for Rihanna, but Sheeran ended up keeping it for himself. Luckily, he did, or else we wouldn’t have this powerful song sung by such an edgy, talented Sheeran. This is a very happy, upbeat song.

“Castle on a Hill” is more of an anthem than a heartfelt lullaby. The compelling chorus makes you want to shout the lyrics out while Sheeran sings along with you. This one makes your heart cry a little. You can almost feel the song reverberating in your chest. It has a feeling that compels your heart to be swallowed in emotion. The song has many real-life situations that almost anyone can relate to. I find myself tapping to the beat subconsciously. Toward the end, the climax of the song fits perfectly and urges the listener to throw out their arms and swing to the beat.

Sheeran has a variety of different songs. In some, he raps, and it’s as if he is singing sweetly into the ear of the listener. In both of these songs, his voice is begging his audience to feel the beat and get up to dance. Both of the songs are well-chosen singles to up the anticipation for his new album. Now his listeners can’t get enough and are begging for more.

Both singles are sung immaculately and instantly catch your attention. The two songs are part of the much anticipated new album, “÷,” that is being released March 3. With both of his singles becoming highly popular, it can only be expected that his album creates a wave of fan appreciation. It is sure to have great reviews. I will definitely be filled with anticipation for the next two weeks waiting to hear the rest of his masterpieces. Ed Sheeran has a bright future, and hopefully he makes music for a very long time.

I give both songs 4 out of 5 stars.

by DOMINICK PUENTE//Editorial Assistant

With Post Malone releasing his debut album, he has incorporated a variety of vocalizations to climb the music charts.

After releasing singles throughout 2016, Post Malone has put out his first complete album with Republic in December.

Coming into 2017, Malone’s album, “Stoney,” has taken the rap culture by storm, due to his various sounds and rhyming styles in his new songs.

This is my favorite album going into 2017 so far, as I can listen to all 18 songs no matter what mood I am in.

Malone’s previous singles have always been slow raps that have relaxing and mellow beats. But he really embraced those characteristics in “Stoney.”

Also, in his previous songs, he has sung in bits. However, it surprised me when he sings in almost every song, including “No Option,” “Broken Whiskey Glass,” “Up There” and “I Fall Apart.”

Granted, he does not have the voice of Whitney Houston, but it is not bad singing at all.

In “I Fall Apart,” Malone keeps a nice, mellow beat throughout the song and mixes regular rapping with a melodic style to compliment the song.

Another thing I enjoy about this album is that there is not a frequent use of clubbing, money, and ego.

In “I Fall Apart,” his message is conveyed as being another victim of heart break, but the woman meant a great deal to him.

Songs can tell a story or send a message, but it becomes habit that rappers talk about the same thing, such as drugs, money, clubbing, ego and blowing money.

Two of Malone’s major singles before “Stoney” are also included, “White Iverson” and “Too Young.” These two tracks established Malone as a more melodic and mellower rapper.

For some rappers, you can mix upbeat and slower songs into an album. However, I feel that is not the case for “Stoney.”

“No Option,” “Congratulations” and “Money Made Me do It” are the songs I would put into the category of partially being upbeat and could be played in a club, but I highly doubt it.

All three songs have strong beats, but they don’t make you want to jump around and throw a giant party.

That is what appeals to me about Malone. He is a great melodic and slow rapper. Some rappers that sound slow usually send a depressing vibe for the listener. But he can create a party anthem with a slow beat.

As for features, there are only four artists featured in four songs on the album. Although that may not be a lot, I think the fewer features, the better on an artist’s first album in order to put out his or her own sound and make it their own.

The first featured song of the album is “Déjà Vu,” with Justin Bieber. It is not bad, even though Bieber is in it.

Both artists use melodic styles within the song, but Malone does incorporate a variation between rapping and singing to give the song some character.

The second song featured is “Feel,” with Kehlani, a song geared to an independent relationship with two people. The song carries a very slow beat, but Malone does add a faster rapping pace with minimal singing.

With a slower beat than most, I thought the song would carry a lot more singing, but even with Kehlani, the song incorporates more rapping than singing.

For “Congratulations,” the rapper Quavo does the majority of the rapping for the song.

Even though it is one of the more upbeat songs, Malone does more of a singing and rapping mix in the song. The point of the song is to express how Malone worked to get where he is now and thank the people who helped him along his journey. It does add a touch of ego and money, but I guess it is unavoidable in rap.

The last feature is for the song “Money Made Me Do It,” featuring 2 Chainz.

I like the song because of its well-produced beats and Malone’s singing. It does have rapping mixed into the song, but Malone does the majority of it as well.

The rapper 2 Chainz has a small part toward the end of the song, but I am fine with that. He is nowhere near my favorite rapper, by any means.

Malone would have been better off just doing the entire song on his own.

There is not a song on this album that I hate. But my least favorite of all the songs is “Patient.” The lyrics and overall production of the beats is what gets me in the end.

The lyrics seem very repetitive throughout the entire song, or there are a few words rearranged.

As for the beat, it just has that sound of someone not putting enough time and effort into the production of the beats and lyrics.

Although that song is not great, the overall album sounds amazing. I have no problem listening to it all day and night.

I give the album four out of five stars.