Mia Barnes directs a heartfelt promo for Ed Sheeran's Eyes Closed - the first release from forthcoming album Subtract. 

Hanging out at a bar with only a few strangers for company, the video opens with Ed drinking away his sorrows, attempting to bury an unhappiness lurking within him. Before long, he begins to see a giant, fuzzy blue monster - a representation of the sadness that he carries around with him. And it starts to shadow him everywhere he goes. 

The portrayal of such emotions as a rather loveable furry creature perhaps suggests that when you hold onto negative emotions for so long, they almost become comfortable and familiar, adding a layer of meaning to the poignant visual. But of course it's also a very astute way of portraying a negative emotion within the recognisable Sheeran universe.

It's a true feat of visual effects, not only with the main monster design but for several other characters with their own emotional creatures, and Ed's stirring performance is the glue that binds the dreamlike, tender promo together.