You may know the 23-year-old from his powerful radio hit, “Take Me to Church,” but there is so much more to know about Irish signer, Andrew Hozier-Byrne, and his profound lyrics. When I first heard the single, his pure voice and unique lyrics immediately drew me in. Further review of the whole album proved that this is a young talent who knows where he is going and will become nothing short of a huge success.
Although Hozier has direct Irish roots, his Americana-sounding voice and gospel influences come from his appreciation for the blues. His father was a blues musician who played in Dublin when the singer was young. Hozier followed his father’s footsteps to become a music student at Trinity College, that was, until he dropped out to record demos that would eventually lead to his popular hit, “Take Me to Church.”
“Take Me to Church” is not just a breakthrough song for Hozier. It is a statement that is clear to all those who view the video that accompanies the song. When listening to the lyrics, it is clearly a love song with religious infusions, but the video is not of a man and woman, but two men who are clearly in love, and who are beaten for their sins against the church. According to fuse.com, this was Hozier’s effort to raise awareness about gay marriage and Russia’s criminalization of homosexuality. In an interview about his song, Hozier points out that, “If you're more disgusted by that [two people kissing] than the actual violence... I think you should take a look at your values, maybe.”
A look at Hozier’s other songs have surprised me greatly. It is amazing what you can learn about an artist when you stop listening to the sound behind the music and instead hear the lyrics. “Work Song “ has easily become one of the most romantic songs I have ever heard. The love portrayed in this song is obvious, but dark, with lines such as, “When my time comes around / lay me gently in the cold dark earth / no grave can hold my body down / I’ll crawl home to her,” and “If the lord won’t forgive me / I still have my babe and my babe will have me.” Although this song may be darker than most popular love songs, I think singer’s like Ed Sheeran and John Mayer could learn a thing or two about real romantic poetry from Hozier.
After a stellar Saturday Night Live performance, back in October, Hozier’s fan base has only continued to grow. He will be performing at many music festivals this summer, including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Sasquatch!, and many more. The singer will be touring several countries over the next few months, as well as around the U.S. He will be spreading the word on human rights issues and adding a soulful sound to our summers. “Take Me to Church” has certainly catapulted Hozier to his big break. His substantial lyrics and unique sound are what will continue to carry the singer on his path.
