LIFE for Ed Sheeran could not get any more surreal at the moment.

One minute he is partying at the home of a Hollywood superstar, the next he is performing at Woodbridge School.

The 19-year-old, from Framlingham, is fast making a name for himself as one of the best up-and-coming talents on the UK music scene.

Despite still being unsigned, the singer, who describes his music as acoustic, hip hop and soul is attracting interest from record companies across the world.

And it was during a trip to Los Angeles that the former pupil at Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham caught the attention of actor Jamie Foxx, who has starred in films such as The Soloist and Law Abiding Citizen.

Ed, whose parents still live in Framlingham, said: “I went over to LA in April and played some gigs. I played at an open mic night and I was invited on Jamie Foxx’s radio show.

“I then played the radio show and then after that he invited me to a party at his house. I ended up spending a week there and using his studio. He was just really friendly and a very family man and he was really kind and he gave me advice on all different elements of the music industry and told me to always stay true to myself.

“I had been at his house for a week and then ended up flying home and doing a gig at Woodbridge School. It was a really surreal experience.”

But despite the interest that he is receiving, Ed remains true to his Suffolk roots. In particular, one of his former teachers at Thomas Mills High School.

“I was never really that good at school and could not really concentrate,” he said. “I started working hard at music because I was not working hard at anything else.

“I had a music teacher called Richard Hanley. He was an inspirational teacher for me and he is definitely one of the cogs in the machine.”

Ed is now in the process of working on a collaboration album with some of his favourite UK rap stars. But throughout everything that he does, and no matter where in the world he is, Ed is always supported by his proud parents John and Imogen.

“I think they are over the moon,” he said. “They were the first ones to encourage me and they have been really encouraging since day one and they come to as many gigs as they can.”