Few artists can tell a story with their guitar the way Joe Hodgson does. Hailing from the small village of Ballymagorry in Northern Ireland, Hodgson is a guitarist whose music feels weathered by history, yet defiantly alive. With his new EP Since You Had A Hold On Me / Stick Or Twist, released May 9, 2025, Hodgson once again proves that he doesn’t need a wall of lyrics to make a statement—his guitar speaks volumes.
This two-track release is the latest glimpse into the emotional landscape leading up to Hodgson’s second solo album Fields Of Redemption, set for release in June. If the EP is any indication, that album will be a powerful continuation of his journey—one steeped in personal reflection, musical mastery, and the kind of depth that only years of lived experience can cultivate.
The title track, “Since You Had A Hold On Me,” features Irish vocalist Glen Harkin and immediately feels different from Hodgson’s previous instrumental releases. Harkin’s voice brings a gritty soulfulness to the track, serving as the perfect complement to Joe’s expressive guitar work. The chemistry between the two is palpable. This isn’t just a collaboration—it’s a conversation. Harkin’s vocals soar and simmer, delivering lines with an ache that feels earned, while Hodgson’s guitar answers with swells of emotion, sometimes mourning, sometimes defiant, always melodic.
Musically, the track straddles genres with confidence. There are shades of blues-rock, but also the cinematic qualities that Hodgson has become known for. The song feels like a slow-burning memory, a letter written in the haze of heartbreak. But rather than drown in despair, it breathes with a kind of haunted hopefulness. It’s clear that Hodgson doesn’t just play notes—he paints moods.
The second track, “Stick Or Twist,” strips everything back. A return to his instrumental roots, the song is classic Joe Hodgson: intricate, atmospheric, and emotionally precise. It opens with delicate phrasing that slowly builds into sweeping, layered sections, echoing a sense of inner conflict and forward momentum. The title itself evokes tension—decisions to be made, chances to be taken—and Hodgson’s guitar lays out those questions in a language beyond words.
There’s a fluidity in “Stick Or Twist” that speaks to his evolution as an artist. The phrasing is more mature, more deliberate, and the production—handled with the same clarity and care as always—allows every subtle bend and harmonic to ring out. It’s the kind of track that reveals more with each listen, revealing the layers beneath the melody and inviting listeners to sit with their own emotions while the music speaks.
Together, these two tracks form a perfect dichotomy: voice and instrument, lyrical confession and wordless introspection. It’s also a smart move artistically. By presenting these songs as a double A-side, Hodgson sets up an emotional range that primes listeners for what’s to come in Fields Of Redemption. You can feel that something bigger is building here—something that pulls from the pain of the past but remains focused on transcendence.
What continues to set Hodgson apart in today’s oversaturated music world is his authenticity. There’s no gimmick here, no flashy attempt to chase trends or rack up algorithmic points. His music feels timeless, because it is—grounded in tradition, but shaped by modernity. Having honed his skills through decades of touring, recording, and collaborating across Europe, Hodgson brings the weight of experience to every chord.
Since his 2020 debut Apparitions, which critics lauded as “a modern-day masterpiece,” Hodgson has steadily built a reputation as a musician’s musician. He may not dominate headlines, but among those in the know, he’s considered one of the most expressive guitarists working today. And with Since You Had A Hold On Me / Stick Or Twist, he’s only strengthening that legacy.
There’s also a sense of geographical identity pulsing through his work. Hodgson’s music carries the DNA of Northern Ireland—the melancholic beauty of the landscape, the echoes of conflict, the resilience of a culture that’s learned to live through the storm. Even when he’s exploring blues or jazz territory, there’s always something distinctly Irish threading through it, whether in the phrasing or the emotional undercurrent. It’s the sound of home, refracted through decades of artistic evolution.
As Fields Of Redemption approaches, this latest release is more than just a teaser. It’s a statement: Joe Hodgson is still digging deeper, still pushing himself, still uncovering new ways to communicate through his guitar. Whether backed by a soulful voice like Glen Harkin’s or standing solo in instrumental grace, Hodgson’s music remains unflinchingly sincere and achingly beautiful.
In a world of noise, Since You Had A Hold On Me / Stick Or Twist offers a moment of clarity—an emotional exhale wrapped in melody and soul. And with every note, Joe Hodgson reminds us why we still need artists like him: to make sense of the things we can’t always say, and to soundtrack the stories that linger in the silence.
