Courteney Cox Directs Daughter Coco in New Foy Vance Music Video

Vance was inspired by Cox's daughter to write about "the beautiful childhood innocence that sadly, but inevitably, fades with time," said Cox

Coco Arquette‘s all grown up!

And the 12-year-old – Courteney Cox and David Arquette‘s daughter – didn’t just inspire Foy Vance’s sentimental new song “Coco”: She stars in its music video, too, and PEOPLE has an exclusive first look at the clip.

Singer-songwriter Vance met Cox, 52, through the actress’ Snow Patrol rocker boyfriend Johnny McDaid, 39, with whom Vance was already friends through their shared Northern Irish and music roots.

“Johnny brought Foy into my life a few years ago, and, immediately, he became a very close friend. He also got to know my daughter, Coco, and a song was born,” Cox told PEOPLE.

“From the first time Foy played ‘Coco’ for me – and every time I’ve heard it since – I’ve felt he captured, not only Coco’s unique personality but also the beautiful childhood innocence that sadly, but inevitably, fades with time,” Cox added. “It is like a snapshot of the world as seen through a child’s eyes … sung by a man who is moved by how the world seems from her perspective. I think it’s a perspective that we, as adults, never stop longing for.”

Vance says the song and its accompanying clip came together organically.

“That old adage ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ has never proved more true than with Courteney and Coco. As soon as I wrote the song ‘Coco’ – which started out as an off the cuff verse to make Coco laugh – it was obvious that Courteney would direct the video,” Vance told PEOPLE. “They both have such beautifully inquisitive spirits and kind hearts. Mix that with a killer sense of humour and you’ve got the Courteney/Coco double act!”

Cox has done her share of directing, from Cougar Town episodes and the drama Just Before I Go to Kodaline’s “Love Will Set You Free” music video last year. So her behind-the-scenes role was a natural fit.

“I was thrilled when Foy asked if I would direct the video for ‘Coco.’ My hope is that I conveyed in a visual way the many levels of feeling that Foy’s song so brilliantly expressed,” she added. “I am struck and continue to be struck by Foy’s incredible soul as a musician and father. He is a truly unique human being, and I am proud to call him a friend.”

As it turns out, Coco, Cox and McDaid aren’t Vance’s only famous friends: He’s signed to pal Ed Sheeran‘s record label. Vance released his second LP, The Wild Swan, in May and will hit the road to tour this fall.