Foy Vance gets Elton John producing new album on Ed Sheeran's label

Foy Vance has announced details of his first album for Gingerbread Man Records, the label launched last year by Ed Sheeran with Jamie Lawson's self-titled No.1 album.

Released May 13th, The Wild Swan was recorded in Nashville with GRAMMY Award-winner Jacquire King. Recording legend Elton John is the album's Executive Producer.

"I feel so privileged to be a part of this remarkable artist's first album on Gingerbread Man Records," says Elton. "He is an extraordinary writer and singer."

Foy Vance and Ed Sheeran are long-term friends who have frequently toured and collaborated together, for The Wild Swan – an album that makes nods to, and takes cues from, heroes ranging from Noam Chomsky to Ziggy Stardust to WB Yeats – the pair's relationship moves to another level.

"I'm so happy to be releasing Foy's album on Gingerbread Man Records," says Sheeran. "I've been such a huge fan since the first time I saw him live...I'm constantly blown away with how talented he is. The Wild Swan is an amazing album and I can't wait for everyone to hear it."

One of the impetuses behind Sheeran founding Gingerbread Man Records was to give musicians he truly believes in complete artistic freedom, and so he made his friend an incredible offer: the chance to make a new album with an Artist-led record company, with full support and without constraint.

"Ed said, 'go and make the record you want to make.'" Vance took him at his word.

This freedom enabled the Aberfeldy-based Irishman to craft The Wild Swan entirely to his own vision, in Nashville's legendary Blackbird Studios aided by Jacquire King, producer of one of his favourite albums, Tom Waits' Mule Variations.

"Mule Variations is not only an exquisitely-written record but a wonderful sounding record," says Vance. "I actually flew out to meet Jacquire in person before I agreed to work with him because I wanted to look in the whites of his eyes and make sure we'd be on the same page. I didn't want something too clean, polished and commercial."

Foy Vance The Wild Swan tracklisting:

1. Noam Chomsky Is A Soft Revolution
2. Upbeat Feelgood
3. Coco
4. Casanova
5. Bangor Town
6. Burden
7. She Burns
8. Be Like You Belong
9. Unlike Any Other
10. Ziggy Looked Me In The Eye
11. Fire It Up
12. The Wild Swans On The Lake

Foy Vance supporting Elton John Wonderful Crazy Tour:

10th June 2016 Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln
11th June 2016 Grace Road, Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Leicester
12th June 2016 Longleat, Near Warminster, Wiltshire
14th June 2016 Echo Arena, Liverpool
19th June 2016 Exeter Westpoint
25th June 2016 Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh
26th June 2016 Blenheim Palace, Woodstock

Headline dates to be announced soon.