Do you ever find yourself obsessed with an artist, wondering why you didn’t discover them sooner? You can’t stop listening to “new” artists like Ed Sheeran and Imagine Dragons, even though they’ve been out there making music for years, and you never knew it.  Among a mountain of talented artists like twenty one pilots, David Ramirez and Lorde, who are playing shows night after night to become a household name, you want to sift through the unknown artists to find the next superstar.

Well, let me save you the trouble and give the answer away: Foy Vance. 

Foy Vance is an Irish singer-songwriter whose music dips into many genres, including alternative, folk, acoustic, singer-songwriter and blues.  As a seasoned musician, he has been writing and performing music since 2006.  

He released his first album entitled “Hope” in 2007, but looking back, Vance said in his documentary, he doesn’t like it anymore.  Despite the widespread acclaim from his European fan base, Vance sees his first album as a mistake that was necessary for him to grow to where he is now.  

Six years later, Vance has released his second full-length album, “Joy of Nothing.” Vance wrote every song on the album, including a series of four songs that were written in one day.   

When asked about how he felt about his sophomore record, he said, “I feel like I’m releasing my first album.”  

The new album contains traces of Vance’s folk-soul style from “Hope,” but brings a new distinct element that makes the album more raw and relatable.  By slowing his songs down, the message of each track rings louder, and it is easy to feel every emotion Vance tries to convey.

Vance courageously mixes heartfelt lyrics about the ups and downs of love with a grungy, organic voice.  The result is an album that keeps the listener hanging on to every word.  

British superstar Ed Sheeran tweeted on Vance’s release date saying, “the new Foy Vance album is out today. its called The Joy Of Nothing, and its the best album ive owned in 5 years. please go and listen to it.”  Sheeran’s own album came out in 2011.  

What is remarkable about the new album is the sheer simplicity found in “Joy of Nothing.”  Today, the vast majority of albums contain a multitude of loops, backing tracks, layers and auto-tune, which lengthens the recording process tremendously, because each song must be manipulated to no end. 

In contrast, Vance found his niche in live performance. This strength led him to record each song in one take, then throw it on the album.  This creates an incredible listener experience rare in other studio tracks.  With headphones in and eyes closed, it feels like sitting in the audience at a Foy Vance concert.  

Don’t take my word for it, though; go check out Vance’s new album yourself.  Also, be on the lookout for a few surprises along the way, including a duet with both Ed Sheeran and Bonnie Raitt.  Now, when more people start to catch on to the Foy Vance trend in six months or a year or so, you will be right there saying you’ve been listening to it before he became mainstream.