Ed Sheeran has signed County Down singer Foy Vance to his new record label.
The two are long term friends and Vance has previously toured with Sheeran as a supporting act while the pair also collaborated on various projects together. He was previously signed to Glassnote Records, who released his 2013 album, Joy of Nothing.
Born in 1974 in Bangor, Vance joins Jamie Lawson, the first signing to Ed's new label, Gingerbread Records.
Vance co-wrote Tenerife Sea and Afire Love from Sheeran’s chart-topping album X and last year Ed released a cover of Vance's Make It Rain, which he recorded for the second-last ever episode of gritty US drama Sons of Anarchy.
He also paid to ultimate tribute to the singer with a new tatoo as gaeilge with the words, "nuair is gá dom fháil bhaile, is tú mo réalt eolais”, meaning “when I need to get home, you’re my guiding light".
The lyric is from Vance's track Guiding Light which Ed also features on.
In a statement today Sheeran said:
“I am very happy to reveal Foy Vance as my second signing to Gingerbread Man Records. Foy’s always been an artist I’ve admired since meeting him in 2006. We've become touring buddies over the past few years and he's actually out in Australia with me at the moment on the final leg of my 'x' tour. His vocals are going to blow you away and I can't wait for you all to hear the record."
I've signed my second act to my label. One of my all time favourite artists and inspirations, get a free track at - https://t.co/CHllN3XvKt
— Ed Sheeran (@edsheeran) November 30, 2015
The talented songwriter, who also co-wrote and featured on Rudimental's hit Never Let You Go, today spoke of his delight at being signed to Ed's label.
"I feel a deep sense of peace signing to an artist led label, not least of all because the artist in question is our Ed. Every time I've turned around in the last few years he has had my back."
