Sade Olutola said Ed Sheeran helped inspire the idea behind her debut EP Arrow Heart during an interview backstage at Reading 2026, according to NME.
The rising south London pop artist made her first appearance at the festival on August 29, performing on The Canopy stage before speaking with NME about the project, which was released in February. Olutola said the title came from a concept she created as an 11-year-old during what she described as her “Ed Sheeran phase.”
She explained that after seeing how Sheeran used symbols on his guitars, she tried to create her own version by drawing an arrow heart on her guitar and naming it Mexi. She said she also wrote a tracklist in her songwriting book under the name Arrow Heart, and later decided to use that idea as a tribute when putting out her first EP.
Olutola also described the story behind opening track “2099,” saying she wrote it after finding out her partner had been unfaithful. She said the song moves from a witch-like image in 1625 to the year 2099 as she worked through anger and emotion through imagery.
Beyond Reading, Olutola said this summer has given her a new appreciation for the work that goes into festival performances and the team around her. She also discussed opening for Lexa Gates and Fousheé, and said her debut headline show at London’s The Grace in June meant a great deal to her.
