Award-winning Northern Irish singer/songwriter Foy Vance has released his very special new single “Guiding Light (Anniversary Edition)”, which features vocals from three of the biggest names in music: Ed Sheeran, Elton John, and Keith Urban. The song is available to stream and download beginning today

Vance has also unveiled the accompanying video, which was shot in Brooklyn, New York by Gus Black, who directed the video for Vance’s ”She Burns”. Shot on film, the “Guiding Light (Anniversary Edition) video is a modern cinematic take on the classic Hollywood screen test and stars actor/model AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Carrie Diaries, The Act). The video made its broadcast premiere earlier today on MTV Live, MTVU and MTV Biggest Pop. Vance has also unveiled a lyric video for “Guiding Light (Anniversary Edition)”, and will premiere a short documentary on the making of the song on November 21 at 12:00pm ET.

The closing track on Vance’s 2013 breakthrough album Joy Of Nothing, “Guiding Light” was originally co-sung by Ed Sheeran, Vance’s long-time friend, and touring and songwriting partner. Over the past decade the song has become a beacon of hope for Vance’s substantial worldwide fanbase, and to celebrate 10 year he has revisited the song with three iconic musicians who have been part of his journey and who continue to inspire him.

Produced by Snow Patrol’s Johnny McDaid, the new Anniversary Edition of the song features new vocals from Sheeran together with musical icon Elton John, who has long-championed Vance, and Keith Urban, who has written with Vance and covered his 2016 song “Burden”. The backing choir on the new version consists of Anderson East, Patrick Droney, Devin Dawson, Bonnie Bishop, Lisa Gray, Etta Britt, Bob Britt, and NEEDTOBREATHES’s Bear Rinehart, Josh Lovelace, Seth Bolt, Tyler Burkum, and Randall Harris, and was recorded at Anderson East’s studio in Nashville.

“When I wrote Guiding Light I was feeling lost in my life due to a loss of family, friendships and reason,” says Vance of the track. “The music lit up the darkness. Melody reminded me to keep going no matter how long the road or how pointless it seemed.

“Guiding Light is the person or the thing that brings you back to a safe space, somewhere to lick your wounds and convalesce. To see this song resonate with so many people over the years has truly been a beautiful thing,” adds Vance.

Foy Vance and Ed Sheeran go way back to when Ed was an unsigned, prolifically gigging newcomer. Over Sheeran’s subsequent years of global superstardom, their friendship and songwriting partnership has endured. In 2015, Vance became Sheeran’s second signing to his label Gingerbread Man Records and he has subsequently released two acclaimed studio albums, The Wild Swan (2016) and Signs Of Life (2021).

Vance and Sheeran’s collaborations include co-writing four tracks including “Galway Girl” on Ed Sheeran’s 2017 album ‘÷’, and the closing track “The Hills of Aberfeldy” on Ed’s 2023 album ‘-’. The pair also co-wrote “Blue” on Sheeran’s new album Autumn Variations and “A Beautiful Game” for Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso, which has been nominated for a 2023 Primetime Emmy Award. Vance has also worked with Alicia Keys, Rag N Bone Man, Keith Urban, Kacey Musgraves, Miranda Lambert, Plan B and Rudimental among many others, effortlessly switching between genres.

“Guiding Light” (Anniversary Edition) arrives ahead of the second leg of Vance’s Regarding The Joy Of Nothing US Tour. The 17-city trek kicks off on January 18, 2024 in Birmingham, AL, visits major markets coast-to-coast, and wraps on February 10, 2024 in South Burlington, VT.