'Music was a life raft after dad's death' says Foy Vance

When singer-songwriter Foy Vance woke up to the news his father Hugh had died, his songwriting changed forever.

He had written music before his father's death but it was all "borrowed knowledge".

"Music before my dad died was a vehicle to get me somewhere - to go off and tour. After he died I realised what it actually was - it was a life raft," he said.

"I had no one to look up to anymore but when I engaged with music I could hear his voice very clearly - it was like having a co-writer."

Since 1998 he has been on seven-album journey dedicated to the memory of his father culminating in his latest album - the seventh of seven - The Wake.

Vance, who is often thought of as an artist's songwriter, counts Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton John, and many others, among his fan base.

Last year, the Daily Telegraph wrote that Sir Elton "idolises" Vance.

Sir Elton, Sheeran and Keith Urban joined forces to mark the 10th anniversary of Vance's hit song Guiding Light, with Sir Elton describing it as "the most beautiful song".

The singer-songwriter, who is originally from Bangor, County Down, rose to prominence in 2013 with his critically-acclaimed album Joy of Nothing, for which he won the inaugural Northern Ireland Music Prize.

He later signed to Sheeran's record label, Gingerbread Records, and has toured and collaborated with him on numerous occasions, even winning an Emmy alongside Sheeran for a song written for the Ted Lasso soundtrack.

Vance has been speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme, as well as a special programme by Ralph McClean.

While the album is called seventh of seven, it's not a goodbye or a last album.

But, when it comes to his grief journey, "it does seem to a certain degree I've put something to bed," Vance told the programme.

His preacher father was a "room lighter".

He insisted that his grave said: 'Here lies the late late Hugh Bailie Vance,' because, Vance said, he was always late.

He was a "massive encouragement" in his career.

"He was like: 'You're really good'. He would enter me into competitions and drive me round to sing Unchain My Heart to win - you know - a spa weekend at La Mon house," Vance said.

"But he didn't know the industry and there was no path laid out for me."

• Irish Music Icons
• Foy Vance and Ed Sheeran win Emmy for Ted Lasso song
• Foy Vance Special

Vance said it was "easy to write a song" but "not easy to write a good one".

"Getting a song that's worth something or resonates with you is more tricky," he added.

"If songwriting is hard I believe your ego is in the way and making it something you want it to be."

You can listen Vance's interview with Good Morning Ulster live on Friday morning and on BBC Sounds and on Irish Music Icons with Ralph McClean now on Sounds.