Hogg was born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland and is best known as the lead singer and songwriter with the Christian progressive Celtic/pop/rock band Iona (named after the island Iona). Her father is a Presbyterian 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 Queens University in Belfast. In her third year, Joanne was singing at the Christian Artists talent event and was convinced sing in a school ministry at Youth For Christ in Denmark. After a year, Joanne returned to the University to complete her two remaining years of schooling.
She started working as a junior doctor in the Belfast Hospital, but in 1988 she was invited to form a band with Dave Fitzgerald and Dave Bainbridge. In 1989, Joanne stopped practicing medicine and Iona was born. Since then, Joanne has sung all over Europe and America. Iona's recordings have become successful worldwide, making them Europe's best selling contemporary Christian band.
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 and Margaret Becker 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.
Her vocals were further featured in the PlayStation role-playing video game Xenogears. Composed by Yasunori Mitsuda, 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 prequel to Xenogears, Xenosaga: Episode One. Two tracks were recorded for this game: the ending-theme "Kokoro", and insert song "Pain". 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 as the game's musical composer. Her work in Xenosaga is also her most well known.
In 2008, Joanne released two solo albums, Raphael's Journey and Personal. Raphael's Journey is available only as a download and features friend Moya Brennan of Clannad. The album is available only through Kingsway Music UK. Joanne, 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 Joanne Hogg, "to give fans the true story of the album". [edit] Discography Looking Into Light - (1999) Celtic Hymns - (2006 reissue of Looking Into Light) Raphael's Journey - (2008) Personal - (2008)
See Iona for a list of its recordings [edit] Collaborations New Irish Hymns (2002) (with Moya Brennan and Margaret Becker) New Irish Hymns 2 (2003) (with Margaret Becker and Kristyn Getty) New Irish Hymns 3: Incarnation (2004) (with Margaret Becker and Kristyn Getty) New Irish Hymns 4 (2005) (with Margaret Becker and Kristyn Getty) Songs for Luca (with other Iona members and various other artists) Veil of Gossamer (with Dave Bainbridge) Xenogears Original Soundtrack (with Yasunori Mitsuda) Xenosaga: Episode One Original Soundtrack (with Yasunori Mitsuda) Xenosaga: Episode One Original Soundtrack (Second Release) (with Yasunori Mitsuda) Xenosaga: Episode One "Kokoro" Single (with Yasunori Mitsuda) The Unseen Stream (solo release by Troy Donockley) The Pursuit of Illusion (solo release by Troy Donockley)
