Rising south London pop artist Sade Olutola has revealed that Ed Sheeran directly inspired her debut EP, 'Arrow Heart', speaking to NME backstage after her first appearance at Reading Festival 2026. She explained the project's title and concept originated when she was 11 years old, after becoming a fan of Sheeran and mimicking his habit of drawing symbols on his guitar and naming his instrument, an idea she revisited years later when finally releasing her debut EP.

The EP, released in February, features the opening track '2099', which Olutola wrote after discovering her partner had been unfaithful, channelling her anger into a time-travelling narrative spanning 1625 to 2099. She also discussed a busy summer of live performances, including a debut headline show at London's The Grace in June and support slots for Lexa Gates at KOKO and Fousheé as part of Harry Styles' Meltdown, saying she treats every audience the same regardless of the size or nature of the show. Reading 2026 continues with performances from Dave, Raye, Gunna and others.