Foy Vance : Ireland's Hidden Gem

"Singer/ songwriter" is now officially a genre within the iTunes store, which to folks that have followed the stylistic finger picking of guys like James Taylor, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Ray Lamontagne, William Fitzsimmons, and Iron & Wine, this is huge. Folk music was a broadbased genre; something that encompassed the soothing sounds of acoustic guitars, 3 piece drum kits w/ 1 cymbal, and perhaps an upright bass. Drenched in accents from the East Village to the Southern US, and perhaps most comparable to country music, Folk music was the "history" section of our musical library, putting the talents of singers and songwriters into a genre based around a time period, as opposed to respecting that they were in fact very simplistic and individualistic in characterization. They were singers. They were songwriters. Now, respectively, they are classified as singers/ songwriters.

Perhaps the best singers/ songwriters that I've found in my search for the "perfect" blend of acoustic guitar, raspy vocals, and chill binding lyrics are from Ireland. From Damien Rice himself, to Glen Hansard ("Once," "The Frames", "The Swell Season") these guys know how to write songs, and more importantly, they know how to deliver them. Whether it's the lush Irish landscape, the comradery one experiences at the local pubs, or the emotional aftershock of the religious conflicts in the late '60s, these guys can sing and show unlimited inspiration to keep delivering great records and great songs.

I give you Foy Vance, from Bangor County, Northern Ireland. His record "Hope" came out in 2007 on Wurdamouth Records, and is easily one of my favorite singer/ songwriter records that I own to date. He knows suffering, he knows joy, and he knows how to deliver each one as if you are the one experiencing it. He's Ireland's "Bruce Springsteen" in a way. You always knew what Bruce was talking about. Foy is no different. He defines what it is to be a singer/ songwriter, and not a "folk" singer. This story is unique to himself, the first hand storyteller. He doesn't define history within his lyrics, he defines HIS history.

Below is a live performance of "Indiscriminate Act of Kindness," my favorite track on "Hope." In this song he shows what it truly means to help someone, and that no matter what state of mind one can be in, all we really need to do is help eachother and it is truly appreciated, even without a "Thank You."

"When you took your chances,
It was like you placed a bet.
And sometimes this is the reward you can get.
I was always taught,
If you see someone defiled,
You should look them in the eyes and smile,
And take their heart, no better still
Take them home, home, home."

Cheers.