Ed Sheeran's inspiration and latest signing... Foy Vance

Foy Vance isn't just Ed Sheeran's new signing - he's also the star's "inspiration".

Sheeran set up Gingerbread Man Records within Atlantic Records earlier this year and his first act Jamie Lawson has already had a number one on the Official Album Chart.

And Sheeran calls Vance one of his "all-time favourite artists".

Speaking to Newsbeat from Australia, Foy told us how Ed's "been a revelation, that wee fella".

Ed's covered Foy's songs, written new songs with him and is a long-time fan.

Vance released his first single nine years ago and his music has featured on TV shows including Grey's Anatomy.

Monica Michael covered his track Make It Rain on the first X Factor live show of 2015.

Ed on tour this week in Brisbane. He has some of Foy's lyrics tattooed on his arm

Ed and Foy go way back

"I met him [Ed] on Arthur's Day at Whelan's pub in Dublin, maybe in 2010. He came round to the show after and we sat hanging out, song sharing until about 5am," says Foy.

"Ed had reached out on email a little before then and enquired about maybe writing together. This was before he'd even released his first record.

"All I'd heard was that this guy's going to be the next big thing but I hadn't heard any of his stuff.

"The first time I met him, I met the tornado that is Ed, you know."

Foy Vance. Harry Styles has tweeted in the past how much he likes his music as well

Foy toured with Ed in the UK and the US

"He asked me to go on tour with him shortly after we met and I just figured, when is a man like me, at that stage a 38-year-old, single, white, baldy Irish man that lives in the mountains of Scotland, going to get to go on tour with a bona fide pop star?

"So I said yes.

"That was how it started. We toured in the UK and through the US as well. He's been a revelation that wee fella."

Hanging with Taylor and Ed

"One night on tour in the US with Ed, we were just sitting around back at Ed's place and got the guitars out with Gavin DeGraw and Taylor Swift. I played an old song I'd written called Narrow Road.

"That doesn't really happen that much, I tend to take myself off. I'm either in the pool hall, or after this conversation I'm taking myself back out to the veranda to finish my vodka and tonic. "

Foy's now part of the squad

How Ed signed Foy

"I was without a label there for a bit and just figuring out what to do and I felt like I wanted to make another record but wasn't sure how to go about it.

"I was talking with Ed about it in general, just hanging out, and he brought up the idea and I thought, 'Well that makes complete sense' because the fella has been such a patron.

"I love it that his daddy used to bring him to my gigs when he was like 13 years old or something.

"It's kind of comforting to know that someone as tenacious as him wanted to make a record with me."

How involved is Ed in Foy's album?

"Ed does keep putting up Snapchats of him singing little snippets of songs from my new record. We're always on the phone with one another.

"He's trusted me to make the record I feel I need to make although there is one song that he's insisting on, which I haven't recorded yet. It's one of those songs that is difficult.

"I like the track but it's a pretty heavy-hearted song and I feel I sang enough of that on the last record. It's time to be happy for a while."

Foy Vance, a man and moustache

Best gig so far?

"We played Wembley for crying out loud, thanks to Ed. I got to say those immortal words [hello, Wembley!]."

What happens next?

"I'm in Australia on tour with Ed Sheeran and doing a few dates with Elton John. That's not a sentence I've had to say much in my life.

"We're making this record and whatever happens with it will happen.

"The beauty of this is, Ed's not only in this as a business venture for him but he's a friend, so he's happy for this to take whatever form it takes.

"If it takes off and people like the record that's great but if not that's equally great. He wanted me to make a record full of music I enjoy making and there is no pressure on me."

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