Singer-songwriter Joe Hicks has released his new single Time is a Thief. The track is his first new material in three years and is a poignant look back on the life changes he’s worked through over this time.
For any fans of Joe Hicks, Time is a Thief will present itself as a move towards a rockier and edgier sound compared to his previous softer rock and folk-influenced tracks. Off-kilter percussion is our introduction before the guitars take centre-stage and vie for attention as the chorus of “Can you feel it now? Time is a thief in the brain” rolls around. Hicks’ vocal is controlled and smooth, hitting high notes at the chorus and displaying his range and emotional connection to the track. In 2024, Hicks was going through a breakup as well as coping with the loss of his father and he poured this grief into his song writing, which shines through in lyrics such as “I don’t know where I lost the key. Maybe it fell into the darkness taking hold of me.” The track’s lyrics portray Hicks’ temptation to give up and the poignancy of how these negative thoughts fight against his positivity for the future. It mimics how he felt pulled in two directions during this very difficult time in his life. Soaring guitar solos thread their way through the track and the layering of the guitars with the addictive percussion beat and Hicks’ airy vocal create a vibrant and stimulating soundscape.
When speaking of Time is a Thief Hicks said “Time is a Thief was a song that when I had finished the lyrics it revealed to me how I was truly feeling at the time, being in a mindset that everything was both pointless and meaningless. It showed me the stages of grief I’d been going through since losing my Dad, where I was currently at, and also how that experience had shaped my outlook on life.”
Joe Hicks released his first single in 2017 and since then has amassed over 5 million Spotify streams, toured the UK and Europe, played at festivals such as CarFest and Pub in the Park and has also supported Sam Fender, Seafret and Starsailor. Hicks released his debut album The Best I Could Do At The Time in 2022 which featured the guitar-laden single Mirror Mirror. The overall sound of the track harked back to the peak of classic Americana and showcased the folk and pop-rock influences that weave their way through the whole album. So it’s great to see Joe Hicks embark on a journey down a more rock-influenced avenue for this new chapter in his musical career.
Time is a Thief is available to stream now. Find out more about Joe Hicks here and have a listen to Time is a Thief below.