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Foy Vance, 'Joy of Nothing'
Info: Born in Bangor, Co. Down, Foy Vance spent much of his early years in America's Midwest with his father, a preacher, where they settled in Oklahoma. Vance's musical influences are borne very much from those formative years as he travelled extensively through the southern states and was exposed to a variety of traditional and local music, before eventually returning to his birthplace where he began to write his own music. A distinct cross-over of both places he calls home are evident in his work, and he has been mentioned in the same breath as Van Morrison and Bruce Springsteen by critics.
Songs such as the E.P.'s opener, 'Feel For Me' and 'Joy of Nothing' (the title-track of his latest album, above video) capture his message perfectly, described far better than I could surmise on his website; 'They often find their ways to tragic ends, but Vance reminds us constantly that we reap what we sow and sometimes we’re reaping very little. He presents the sadness that we find in our coffers as something valuable, as something that shouldn’t be dismissed as failure.' In essence, you're invited to harness the sadness that befalls you, almost embrace it and use it as a point of reference to fully appreciate the brighter days that are ahead. From a personal point of view, what really stands out about the tracks on the Feel For Me E.P. is the blend of soul, Americana folk and the lovely little dash of uplifting gospel on the title track.
Foy Vance, 'Feel For Me'
Additional Info: Foy Vance has revealed details of his new Feel For Me EP, out 26th September on Glassnote Records. The four-track Feel For Me EP is the third single to be taken from Vance’s award-winning album Joy Of Nothing, and follows 'You & I', which featured vocals from the legendary, multiple Grammy-winning, Bonnie Raitt.
Vance has also been announced as the support to Ed Sheeran this year at the iTunes Festival that takes place in London’s well know venue the Roundhouse on September 29th. Firm friends, Sheeran and Vance have toured together extensively - including Vance supporting Sheeran at Madison Square Garden last December - and appear on each other’s most recent albums. Sheeran sang backing vocals on 'Guiding Light' from Joy Of Nothing, Vance returns the favour on 'Afire Love' on Sheeran’s new album X, and has a co-writing credit on the track 'Tenerife Sea'.
Last November, Joy Of Nothing was announced as the winner of the inaugural Northern Ireland Music Prize, ahead of albums from Two Door Cinema Club, Tired Pony, And So I Watch You From Afar, and Girls Names.
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