Foy Vance releases first part of 'IF' album before Los Angeles shows
The Northern Irish singer-songwriter shares 16 new recordings drawn from 119 songs written over 30 years, with two upcoming concerts at the El Rey Theatre.
By Aiko Soto ·
Foy Vance has released the first volume of his three-part project “IF,” a collection of 16 new recordings drawn from songs he wrote over the last three decades. The initial installment, “IF: WE,” arrived on Friday, Oct. 30. Vance will perform two nights at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on Nov. 6 and 7 as part of his 2026 world tour.
The creation process for this record differed from his previous work. Instead of arriving in the studio with a fixed plan, Vance gave Anderson East, a longtime friend and producer, full control over the material. East selected from a folder containing 119 songs Vance had written since the 1990s. Many of these tracks had sat unreleased for years.
Vance noted that East often chose songs Vance had forgotten existed. The producer listened to the entire archive and picked tracks that resonated with him. This approach allowed Vance to reconnect with older material in a new context. The final product includes songs originally written for his earliest albums that never saw the light of day.
The three-part series follows a specific thematic structure. “IF: WE” focuses on family, community, and belonging. The second part, “IF: YOU,” will explore love, forgiveness, and relationships. The final volume, “IF: I,” turns the focus inward. The title references a poem by Rudyard Kipling that Vance’s late father recited to him frequently. Vance described the word “if” as hopeful and tied to his father’s advice on living a balanced life.
Vance said the process brought a sense of tenderness toward his younger self. He admitted to being harsh on his early work, often critiquing the strength of the songs. Revisiting them now allowed him to feel proud of the songwriter who wrote them. He described this shift in perspective as a way to engage with his past without judgment.
The upcoming Los Angeles shows mark a change in Vance’s touring method. For the first time in his career, he is performing a structured setlist. This format allows him to revisit different eras of his catalog. One track from his early years is “Feel the Cold,” written about returning to Ireland after a stint in the Canary Islands. Vance said the sentiment of that song remains relevant despite the passage of time.
Vance does not prescribe a specific interpretation for his audience. He hopes listeners leave the performances feeling slightly better than when they arrived. He described a good set as one that takes a person apart and puts them back together without adding unnecessary parts. The two-night run in Los Angeles serves as the opening for his broader 2026 tour.
