Hozier

Hozier
Andrew John Hozier-Byrne (born 17 March 1990), known professionally as Hozier, is an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. His music primarily draws from folk, soul and blues, often using religious and literary themes and a political or social justice stance.
His debut single, "Take Me to Church" (2013), became a rock radio hit in the U.S., peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and has been certified multi-platinum in several countries. His eponymous debut studio album (2014) has been certified 6× platinum in Ireland and multi-platinum in several countries. His EP Nina Cried Power (2018), which featured the title track as a single, reached number one on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart. His second album, Wasteland, Baby! (2019), debuted atop the Irish Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, and was certified gold in the U.S. His third studio album, Unreal Unearth (2023), was released on Rubyworks Records.
Early life
Andrew John Hozier-Byrne was born on 17 March 1990 in Bray, County Wicklow; the son of Raine Hozier-Byrne, an artist, and John Byrne, a local blues drummer who had a day job working at a bank. He grew up near Delgany, County Wicklow. As a child, Hozier self-identified as a "class clown" and an "unfocused student", calling school a "monotonous nightmare". He once worked a job scrubbing toilets at a golf course, which he described as a "good experience of hard work". He began writing songs at the age of 15. He taught himself guitar and sang in his school choir. He was educated at Delgany National School. His parents were raised Catholics but converted to Quakers. Despite this, he later attended the Catholic St. Gerard's School before studying music education at Trinity College Dublin. He missed exams to record demos for a music label and was refused a year's deferral by the college.
Career
2008–2012: Beginnings
While at Trinity, Hozier became involved with the Trinity Orchestra. He was a member of and toured with the choral ensemble Anúna from 2007 to 2012 and appeared as a soloist on their 2014 release Illuminations singing "La Chanson de Mardi Gras". Hozier played at the Oxegen 2009 and Oxegen 2010 festivals. In 2012, Hozier was a backup singer for Billy Ocean.
2013–2017: Breakthrough
Hozier wrote the song "Take Me to Church" in 2013 in between playing open mic nights in Dublin; the rough demo resulted in him signing with indie label Rubyworks Records. Hozier released his debut extended play, also called Take Me to Church, on 3 July 2013. It appeared on the Billboard 200. He initially recorded track demos in his attic studio before working on the record with producer Rob Kirwan. The titular single was released in September 2013. The music video, alluding to themes of homophobia, was released that same month, having been created on a "shoestring budget" and filmed entirely in black-and-white. The video was shared by English actor Stephen Fry, which helped it reach the front page of Reddit and subsequently become a viral video. The song scored top-five chart positions and multi-platinum certifications; the song also garnered critical acclaim for its lyricism and messaging. The EP's concluding track, "Cherry Wine", appeared in Zach Braff's movie Wish I Was Here, chosen for its "heartbreaking lyrics and poetry". It was later performed on the Late Late Show. In March 2014, Hozier released his second EP, From Eden.
Hozier released his eponymous album, Hozier, on 19 September 2014, including tracks from his first two extended-play albums (EPs). The album drew inspiration from folk, R&B and blues music. Hozier met critical success; Helen Brown of The Daily Telegraph noted that it was "an intense, youthful lyrical tangling of religion and romantic obsession that regularly finds him poised 'between love and abuse'". Hozier peaked at number one in Ireland and finished second on the US Billboard 200. The album is certified 2× platinum in the UK and US. After the release of "Take Me to Church", the record released five singles released from 2014 to 2016: "From Eden", "Sedated", "Work Song", Someone New", "Jackie and Wilson" and "Cherry Wine", which all appeared on the Irish Singles Chart. The music videos for "From Eden" "Someone New" and "Cherry Wine" featured actresses Katie McGrath, Natalie Dormer and Saoirse Ronan, respectively. In October 2014, he made his U.S. debut, performing "Take Me to Church" and "Angel of Small Death" on Saturday Night Live. In December 2014, he performed "Take Me to Church" at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
In February 2015, "Take Me to Church" was nominated at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards for Song of the Year. At the awards show, he performed the song with Annie Lennox. He also performed it at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards in May 2015. On 12 November 2015, he won the VH1 Artist of the Year, a fan-voted award. At the ceremony, he performed "Take Me to Church" and The Beatles' "Blackbird" with singer Tori Kelly. In June 2016, Hozier released the song "Better Love" as part of the Legend of Tarzan soundtrack. Hozier subsequently took a one-year hiatus from his work, moving back to Ireland to "reconnect" after touring his debut album.
2018–2021: Nina Cried Power EP and Wasteland, Baby!
In September 2018, Hozier returned with the release of the EP Nina Cried Power. The album features a collaboration with Mavis Staples on the titular track. He released his second studio album's lead single, "Movement", on 14 November 2018, alongside a music video. Hozier's second album, Wasteland, Baby!, was released on 1 March 2019, including tracks from his previous EP. The thematic elements of the album center around his interpretation of the apocalypse while looking for thematic elements of romance and redemption. Reviews were largely positive; Elisabeth Woronzoff of PopMatters stated it "light[s] the artist's skill and vision of his craft... [and] that it [..] delivers while edifying the artist as an impactful voice in the art and activism sphere." The album debuted atop the Irish Albums Chart and the Billboard 200, Hozier's first number-one US release. Wasteland Baby! has since been certified silver in the United Kingdom and gold in the United States.
Wasteland, Baby! included two further singles released in 2019 that debuted on the Irish Singles Chart: "Almost (Sweet Music)" and "Dinner and Diatribes"; the music video for the latter track features an appearance from actress Anya Taylor-Joy. He was the closing headliner of the inaugural Railbird Festival held on the grounds of the Keeneland horse track in Lexington, Kentucky. Hozier was one of the headliners for the Electric Picnic 2019, a three-day festival held in Ireland on 30 August to 1 September. He performed at the Glastonbury Festival 2019, a five-day festival held in June in England. He also performed at the Lollapalooza 2019, a four-day music festival held in Chicago in August.
In March and April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hozier performed via social media to raise money and awareness for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC). He performed a cover version of "The Parting Glass" on The Late Late Show and released the song as a charity single on streaming media, with proceeds going to the ISPCC. In June 2020, as part of a fundraising special, RTÉ Does Comic Relief, with proceeds going towards victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, he performed a cover of "Bridge over Troubled Water" in Croke Park and performed a sketch with Irish comedian Aisling Bea.
On 29 October 2021, Hozier released the single "Tell It to My Heart" in collaboration with Meduza, which debuted at number 13 on the Irish Singles Chart.
2022–present: Eat Your Young EP and Unreal Unearth
The single "Swan Upon Leda", released on 7 October 2022, was inspired by Egyptian feminist Mona Eltahawy, as well as Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in the United States and the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran. Atwood Magazine praised the song as "a haunting and heartbreakingly beautiful prayer, plea, and cry for reproductive rights and women’s empowerment."
"Blood Upon the Snow" was released on 9 November 2022, as a collaboration with composer Bear McCreary for the video game God of War Ragnarök. He released the extended play Eat Your Young on 17 March 2023. The EP features three songs: "Eat Your Young", "All Things End" and "Through Me (The Flood)".
Unreal Unearth was released on 18 August 2023. Hozier's relationship with the Irish language is evident in the album in song lyrics ("uiscefhuaraithe") and song themes. He also sings in Irish on some of De Selby (Part 1), with translation support from Darach Ó Séaghdha, Peter Kavanagh and Dr Gearóidín McEvoy from the Irish podcast "Motherfoclóir".
Artistry
Influences
As a result of his countryside upbringing, much of Hozier's early music exposure came from his parents' blues, jazz and soul record collections, incorporating artists like John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Bukka White and Tom Waits. His first musical memories were drawn from his father's career as a drummer playing music in Dublin. He has stated that his musical education was "grounded" in Chicago blues artists such as John Lee Hooker, Otis Redding and Nina Simone, to whom he pays tribute in the track "Nina Cried Power". As a child, he was a fan of the bands Stereophonics and Daft Punk. His draws inspiration primarily from Irish and African-American artistry; he has said that the "roots" of jazz, rock, soul and R&B have been largely shaped by black culture and finds importance in "crediting the legacy you're crediting". His guitar work draws from Celtic folk inspiration, as well as musicians Ali Farka Toure and Tinariwen. Hozier has stated that "the best vocalists I can think of are female". Musically, Hozier has listed Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie, Van Morrison, Ella Fitzgerald, St Vincent, Feist, Little Green Cars, Paul Simon, Willie Dixon and Lisa Hannigan as musical and vocal influences.
Songwriting
Hozier states that his writing differs based on the starting point; varying from a couplet and lyrical idea, or a musical hook that he "flesh[es] out from a fairly embryonic point". Lyrics "by far take [him] the most time", describing a "slow process of repetition" while "not lean[ing] too much on verbose phrases" to maintain the integrity of the sentiment. His process is described as "slow, methodical work" and he is "meticulous" about wording; he has stated that he "can defend any idea by the time someone hears it, because [he has] put it through a strainer seven times". His lyrics often contain vivid literary references and draw imagery from nature and religion; they tend to focus on themes of romantic relationships, love and politics. Hozier has dismissed comparisons of his work to poetry, stating that to consider it such "would be a disservice to poetry itself." The "subversion of social norms" plays a role in his music, which often discuss the defiance of organised religion and social convention. Hozier references the Irish concept of the craic, which he interprets as subverting social norms and self-respect, and has stated, "If the Irish are not taking the piss out of something, what's the point really?" His songwriting has been influenced by Irish music and folklore, as well as poets Seamus Heaney and W. B. Yeats. He has said that his first record contained a "fairytale aspect" influenced by Oscar Wilde.
Socially conscious themes
Steve Baltin of Forbes observed that Hozier's brief collegiate study of music theory has influenced his sound as he writes from "socially conscious" perspective. Hozier has stated that he believes "the personal is the political"; much of his work holds direct references to topical events. The "Take Me to Church" music video features two men in a same-sex relationship and highlights the injustices and violence perpetrated against members of the LGBT community. The video was inspired by videos of violent crimes against gay men in Russia. The music video for the song "Cherry Wine" was released to raise awareness of domestic violence. "Nina Cried Power" is a song that features lyrics including names of artists such as Nina Simone, Bob Dylan and Mavis Staples whose work takes a political or social justice stance. The music video features Irish activists alongside protest footage. "Be" also contains many allusions to sea level rise and refugee crises, referencing President Donald Trump and The Apprentice. In November 2019, Hozier released a song titled "Jackboot Jump", following live performances of it on tour. This song, besides being a direct reference to George Orwell's 1984, alludes to social demonstrations in Hong Kong, Russia and in America. In 2019, Hozier performed an unreleased song, "But the Wages", that refers to temperatures rising as well as riots all around the world, while wages remain the same. Prior to the release of Unreal Unearth, Hozier released the single Swan Upon Leda. Named after the Leda and the Swan Greek myth, Hozier stated on social media that the song was inspired by the work of Mona Eltahawy and the systemic oppression of women. Commentators noted the thematic resonance with the release coinciding with the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision in the U.S. and the Iranian protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. Though the song was written and produced before either of these occurred, Hozier commented that the timing of the release was intentional, calling it "an opportunity to offer some show of solidarity."
Personal life
Hozier resides in Oldfort, near Newcastle, County Wicklow, Ireland, where he purchased an 18th-century house for €786,000 in 2015, then added extensions. He is 6 feet 5 inches (1.98m) tall. He has a tattoo on his arm of the last words of Irish poet Seamus Heaney, "noli timere", Latin for "don't be afraid". In 2017, Hozier was reportedly dating Saoirse Ronan.
Hozier was raised in the Protestant Quaker faith and now identifies as an agnostic. In 2019, he stated that he rarely attends church except for funerals and weddings; however, he admires the Quaker religion for its pacifism and its anti-war sentiment. He is especially interested in how people use religious institutions to claim "infallibility" in order to gain control and power over others. He had stated that one positive lesson he learned from his religious upbringing was to "look for the spark of the divine in every individual" and treat everybody as if "you are looking into the mind and face of God".
Activism
Hozier is part of Home Sweet Home, an organisation led by Irish celebrities including actress Saoirse Ronan and musician Glen Hansard, with the goal of getting the government to act to end homelessness. In 2016, the organisation illegally took over an office building in Dublin to house 31 homeless families.
Hozier, who had a Protestant upbringing in the Quaker faith but also attended a Catholic school, is an outspoken critic of the Catholic Church, specifically on its views on sexual orientation. He showed support for abortion in the Republic of Ireland in the 2018 referendum and stated he felt "pride" in his generation and the democratic process following the vote.
All royalties from his 2019 protest song "Jackboot Jump" went to the NAACP and Black Lives Matter movement following the George Floyd protests.
In May 2021, Hozier signed an open letter calling for Irish Americans in President Joe Biden's government to show solidarity with Palestinians.
In March 2023, Hozier performed at the Love Rising benefit concert in Nashville in support of the LGBT community. He has been a vocal supporter of the trans community.
Discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
Other charted songs
Notes
Awards and nominations
American Music Awards
|-
|rowspan="1"|2015
|Hozier
|Favorite Alternative Artist
|
ARIA Music Awards
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|2015
|Hozier
|Best International Artist
|
BBC Music Awards
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|rowspan=2|2015
|Hozier
|International Artist of the Year
|
|-
|"Take Me to Church"
| Song of the Year
|
Billboard Music Awards
|-
|rowspan="5"|2015
|rowspan="2"|Hozier
|Top New Artist
|
|-
|Top Rock Artist
|
|-
|rowspan="2"|"Take Me to Church"
|Top Streaming Song
|
|-
|Top Rock Song
|
|-
|Hozier
|Top Rock Album
|
Country Music Association Awards
|-
|2020
|"The Bones" (with Maren Morris)
|Musical Event of the Year
|
European Border Breakers Awards
|-
|2015
|Hozier
|Album of the Year
|
Denmark GAFFA Awards
!Ref.
|-
| rowspan=2|2020
| Hozier
| Best Foreign Solo Act
|
| rowspan=2|
|-
|Wasteland, Baby!
|Best Foreign Album
|
Grammy Awards
|-
|2015
|"Take Me to Church"
|Song of the Year
|
Ivor Novello Awards
|-
| 2015
| "Take Me to Church"
| rowspan="2"|Best Song Musically and Lyrically
|
|-
| 2019
| "Nina Cried Power"
|
iHeartRadio Music Awards
!Ref.
|-
| 2020
| "The Bones" (with Maren Morris)
| Best Remix
|
|
Juno Awards
|-
|2016
|Hozier
|International Album of the Year
|
Los Premios 40 Principales
|-
|rowspan=2|2015
|Hozier
|Best International New Artist
| rowspan="2"
|-
|"Take Me to Church"
|Best International Video
|-
MTV Europe Music Awards
|-
|2014
|"Take Me to Church"
|Best Song with a Social Message
|
MTV Video Music Awards
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015
|rowspan="2"|"Take Me to Church"
|Best Rock Video
| rowspan="2"
|-
|Best Direction
Silver Clef Award
!Ref.
|-
| 2016
| Hozier
| International Award
|
|
Teen Choice Awards
|-
|2015
|"Take Me to Church"
|Choice Rock Song
|
Žebřík Music Awards
!Ref.
|-
| rowspan=2|2014
| Hozier
| Best International Discovery
|
| rowspan=2|
|-
| "Take Me to Church"
| Best International Song
|
Tours
Opening act
Alex Winston in Dublin (2011).
Headlining
North American fall (2015)
Wasteland, Baby! (2019) - North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe .
Unreal Earth (2023)
Notes
References
External links
1990 births
21st-century Irish male singers
21st-century Irish singer-songwriters
Alumni of Trinity College Dublin
Critics of the Catholic Church
Former Quakers
Irish agnostics
Irish blues singers
Irish LGBT rights activists
Irish male singer-songwriters
Irish rock singers
Living people
People educated at St Gerard's School, Bray
People from Bray, County Wicklow
People from Newcastle, County Wicklow
Soul singers