After taking a hiatus from the public eye for much of 2020, in the run up to his December single, 'Afterglow', Ed Sheeran has shared a rare interview with George Lowden, owner of Lowden Guitars in Co. Down.

The interview marks Sheeran's two-year partnership with the company, through his Sheeran By Lowden range.

Sheeran's first Lowden guitar was gifted to him by Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody – an authentic Bushmills from 2012, which Ed used to write five songs for his No.1 album X. Later, Gary asked George if he would make a guitar for him to give Ed as a present. George developed a unique small guitar for Ed that later became a new model of Lowden Guitars – ‘The Wee Lowden’.

Bonding over a shared dream to give young, aspiring players access to quality guitars, Sheeran and Lowden sparked a friendship, and the seeds of Sheeran By Lowden were sown.

Speaking in their recent interview, Sheeran revealed that his passion for Lowden guitars stems from "being a fanatical Damien Rice fan as a kid".

"He had this Lowden that he played at every single gig," Sheeran said. "I just remember looking at the Lowden. I was completely obsessed with him. And I wanted to dress like him, sing like him, write like him, and I wanted to play the guitar like him."

Conducted via Zoom, the interview coincides with the launch of a new competition, with two Sheeran By Lowden guitars that have been signed and used for recording by Sheeran up for grabs. To be in with a chance of winning, fans are instructed to give the video a 'thumbs up' on YouTube, and comment the first song they would play on the guitar if they won.

Watch Sheeran's interview with George Lowden below: