Joanne Hogg is a Northern Irish musician, best known for her work as the lead singer and songwriter with the

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language * Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Fo ...

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Init ...

and pop band

Iona Iona (; gd, Ì Chaluim Chille (IPA: �iːˈxaɫ̪ɯimˈçiʎə, sometimes simply ''Ì''; sco, Iona) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there ...

(named after the island

Early life and education

Hogg's father is a

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

minister, her mother a nurse; her family also includes three sisters and two brothers. With medicine strong in the family, it was natural for Hogg to become a doctor. Thus, she studied medicine at

Queen's University Belfast , mottoeng = For so much, what shall we give back? , top_free_label = , top_free = , top_free_label1 = , top_free1 = , top_free_label2 = , top_free2 = , established = , closed = , type = Public research university , parent = ...

. In her third year, Hogg was singing at the Christian Artists talent event and was convinced to sing in a school ministry at

Youth for Christ Youth For Christ (YFC) is a worldwide Christian movement working with young people, whose main purpose is evangelism among teenagers. It began informally in New York City in 1940, when Jack Wyrtzen held evangelical Protestant rallies for teenagers ...

in Denmark. After a year, Hogg returned to the University to complete her two remaining years of schooling. After graduating, Hogg interned as a junior doctor at

Belfast City Hospital The Belfast City Hospital ( ga, Ospidéal Chathair Bhéal Feirste) in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is a 900-bed modern university teaching hospital providing local acute services and key regional specialities. Its distinctive orange tower block d ...

to complete her registration. Six months into working at the hospital, she was taken ill and stopped working for seven months to recover. After recovering, she completed her registration as a doctor, but was advised on medical grounds not to continue in full-time medical work. During her convalescence, she had been contacted by

Dave Bainbridge Dave Bainbridge is an English guitarist and keyboard player who has played with The Strawbs since 2015. With Dave Fitzgerald, Dave co-founded the Christian progressive and Celtic folk themed band Iona. Biography Born in Darlington, Engla ...

and Dave Fitzgerald, who had considered forming a band. In 1989, Hogg ceased practising medicine, and Iona was born. Since then, Hogg has sung all over Europe and America. Iona's recordings have become successful worldwide, making them Europe's best-selling contemporary Christian band.

Musical career

Hogg recorded her first solo album in 1999, entitled '' Looking into Light''. The tracks that feature on this album are a selection of re-arranged traditional hymns, with Iona providing the instrumental melodies. In 2001, Hogg collaborated with vocalists

Máire Brennan Moya Brennan (born Máire Philomena Ní Bhraonáin on 4 August 1952), also known as Máire Brennan, is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist. She is the sister of the musical artist known as Enya. She began performing pr ...

and

Margaret Becker Margaret Becker (born July 17, 1959) is an American Christian rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She has had twenty-one No. 1 Christian radio hits, won four Dove Awards, and been nominated for four Grammy Awards. Biography Becker was born ...

for the release '' New Irish Hymns''. There have been a further three volumes of the ''New Irish Hymns'' series of albums involving other vocals. Iona also provided the instrumentals. In 2008, Hogg released two solo albums, ''Raphael's Journey'' and ''Personal''. ''Raphael's Journey'' is available only as a download and features friend

Moya Brennan Moya Brennan (born Máire Philomena Ní Bhraonáin on 4 August 1952), also known as Máire Brennan, is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist. She is the sister of the musical artist known as Enya. She began performing pr ...

Clannad Clannad () is an Irish band formed in 1970 in Gweedore, County Donegal by siblings Ciarán, Pól, and Moya Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Pádraig Duggan. They have adopted various musical styles throughout their history, including ...

. The album is available only through Kingsway Music UK. Hogg, in her personal press release, says:

Musically, this album is a collection of songs with a few instrumentals. Frank Van Essen has been working with me on this for several years not only as producer, but also co-writing and playing. There are beautiful performances from all my mates in Iona, gorgeous string arrangements from Frank, beautiful guest vocals from the amazing Moya Brennan and piano and vocals from myself......so, please download it and tell others about it."

Her ''Personal'' album was also released with a press release by Hogg, "''to give fans the true story of the album''". Her vocals were further featured in the 1998

PlayStation is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...

role-playing video game ''

Xenogears ''Xenogears'' is a 1998 role-playing video game developed and published by Square (video game company), Square for the PlayStation (console), PlayStation video game console. It is the debut entry in the larger ''Xeno (series), Xeno'' franchise. ...

''. Composed by

Yasunori Mitsuda is a Japanese composer, musician, and sound producer. He is best known for his work in video games, primarily for the ''Chrono'', '' Xeno'', ''Shadow Hearts'', and ''Inazuma Eleven'' franchises, among various others. Mitsuda began composing musi ...

, the ending-theme song "Small Two of Pieces", along with an extra track "Stars of Tears" (not featured in the game) were recorded. Mitsuda also invited her to record the vocal themes for the spiritual prequel to ''Xenogears'', '' Xenosaga: Episode One'' released four years later in 2002. Two tracks were recorded for this game: the ending-theme "Kokoro", and the song "Pain", which plays during the final cutscene of the game. Soundtracks were released for both of these videogames on the Digicube label. The song "Kokoro" was also released as a CD single. Hogg's vocals were not featured in any of the later ''Xenosaga'' releases, as Yasunori Mitsuda was replaced with Yuki Kajiura as the game's musical composer. Hogg later returned to the ''Xeno'' series with the release of '' Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed'', for which she performed the ending theme, "Future Awaits", again composed by Mitsuda.

Discography

*'' Looking into Light'' (1999) *'' Celtic Hymns'' (2006; reissue of ''Looking into Light'') *''Raphael's Journey'' (2008 download only, 2010 CD) *''Personal'' (2008) *''Uncountable Stars'' (2014) *''MAP Project'' (2018) *''Road from Ruin'' (2018)

Collaborations

*'' New Irish Hymns'' (2002) (with

and

) *''

New Irish Hymns 2 ''New Irish Hymns 2: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit'' is the second in a series of themed albums created and produced by Keith Getty. This album features vocalists Margaret Becker, Joanne Hogg, and Kristyn Lennox (Getty) performing songs by Keith ...

'' (2003) (with Margaret Becker and

Kristyn Getty Kristyn Elizabeth Rebekah Getty ( Lennox, born 22 May 1980 in Belfast) is a Northern Irish Christian singer and songwriter. With her husband, Keith Getty, she has co-written many award-winning songs and hymns that have charted on multiple US ...

) *'' New Irish Hymns 3: Incarnation'' (2004) (with Margaret Becker and Kristyn Getty) *''

New Irish Hymns 4 ''New Irish Hymns 4: Hymns for the Life of the Church'' is the fourth and final album in a series of themed albums created and produced by Keith Getty. This album features vocalists Margaret Becker, Joanne Hogg, and Kristyn Getty performing song ...

'' (2005) (with Margaret Becker and Kristyn Getty) *''

Songs for Luca ''Songs for Luca'' is a Celtic music and progressive rock album by Dave Bainbridge, the guitarist, keyboard player and founding member of Iona, released in 2003. The album was made to provide financial support for the Bainbridges' young autis ...

'' (with other Iona members and various other artists) *''

Veil of Gossamer Veil of Gossamer is a 2004 album by English rock musician Dave Bainbridge. The idea for ''Veil of Gossamer'' came from an incident that is said to have occurred in the 7th century to a young shepherd boy whilst on the Northumbrian hills, tend ...

'' (with

) *''

Xenogears Original Soundtrack The ''Xenogears Original Soundtrack'' is the official soundtrack to Square's role-playing video game ''Xenogears''. It was composed by Yasunori Mitsuda and contains 44 tracks, including a Bulgarian choral song and two pieces performed by the Iri ...

'' (with

) *''Xenosaga: Episode One Original Soundtrack'' (with Yasunori Mitsuda) *''Xenosaga: Episode One "Kokoro" Single'' (with Yasunori Mitsuda) *''

The Unseen Stream ''The Unseen Stream'' is a progressive classical album by Troy Donockley. This was his first solo outing and was released in 1998. This recording shows Troy as a multi-skilled wood player. His main instrument is the Uilleann Pipes adding also ...

'' (solo release by

Troy Donockley Troy Donockley (born 30 May 1964) is an English composer and multi-instrumentalist most known for his playing of Uilleann pipes. Having performed with many artists as a session player, he is most notable as a member of Finnish symphonic metal ba ...

) *'' The Pursuit of Illusion'' (solo release by Troy Donockley) *''The Cave Sessions Vol.1'' (with Andy Rogers) *''Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed'' (with

)

References

External links

Official Iona Band biography

Profile at Square Enix Music Online
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hogg, Joanne Living people Alumni of Queen's University Belfast British performers of Christian music Musicians from County Antrim Presbyterians from Northern Ireland Women medical doctors from Northern Ireland Women singers from Northern Ireland Year of birth missing (living people)