The new release from Foy Vance, Signs Of Life, is the product of a winding personal and professional journey that began in his native homeland of Bangor, Northern Ireland with the release of his debut album Hope in 2007, which received critical acclaim from fans and fellow musicians. His second full-length album, Joy of Nothing, was released in 2013 on Glassnote Records, and won the inaugural Northern Ireland Music Prize which led to touring the world with artists such as Ed Sheeran, Bonnie Raitt, Marcus Foster, Snow Patrol, and Sir Elton John. In 2015 Vance became the second signing to Gingerbread Man Records, Sheeran’s label division within Atlantic Records, with his debut on that label The Wild Swan, which was executive produced by Sir Elton John, and contained the BBC Radio2 playlist singles “Coco” and “Upbeat Feelgood.” But all was not great in Vance’s world, as – like many of his peers – he struggled with personal demons threatening his career and his life.
“This is the waking up to a harsh reality that my addictions were putting at risk everything I had worked for,” shares Vance. “A home, a family and a career. It’s about being honest. There was a time in my life that I felt like an oak, but there was no oak there when I looked, just a fragile sapling, but a sign of life nonetheless.”
“Sapling,” is Signs of Life’s first single, featuring additional vocals from longtime friend, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and performer Anderson East. “Foy and his music have always had a massive inspiration to me on my music,” shares East. “I’m beyond honored to be asked to be part of this beautiful song. He has a way of draining every last drop of emotion out of every note and I’m humbled he’d ask to add my voice to such a powerful and moving songs. If the world was full of more Foys, we’d be doing alright.”
As a songwriter, Vance has collaborated with Ed Sheeran, co-writing four songs including “Galway Girl,” on Sheeran’s 2017 album Divide. He’s also worked with Alicia Keys, Rag N Bone Man, Keith Urban, Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Plan B, and Rudimental, among many others. In 2021 he launched a podcast series The Vinyl Supper in which he talks music, food, and life stories with special guests and friends from the world of music, poetry, and film. Recorded remotely during the global pandemic, series one featured Anderson East, Atticus, Benny Blanco, Blake Mills, Bruce Cockburn, Chrissy Metz, Courteney Cox, Devin Dawson, Josh Groban, Keith Urban, and Passenger.
This spring, Foy Vance will begin touring in support of Signs of Life on May 6 in Woodstock, NY and wraps up in Los Angeles, CA on May 31, with the album already getting noticed by WMOT, KGSR and more.
Photo by Becky Fluke
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