Paul Revere may have warned us that the British were coming, but he didn’t say anything about the Irish. Singer-songwriter Hozier, a bluesy musician from Ireland with hair like a Greek god, has made quite an entrance into the American music scene over the past few months. His self-titled debut album hit American shelves in October, peaking at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Trying to “break America,” Hozier has definitely made a name for himself here. He performed during the season finale of The Voice and was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in October.
Still not impressed? His performance during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show this past year had a whopping 9.1 million live views. Hozier’s also up for Song of the Year at the Grammy’s with his new single “Take Me to Church.” Other contenders include Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” and Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me.”
In true UK fashion, he’s already booking festivals to play in the US, including Coachella on April 11 and 18. But no worries if you’re not up for a road trip to California; his first US tour starts on Feb. 6 in Los Angeles, CA and ends March 22 in New York, NY. Texas is, of course, on the list, but unfortunately those dates are already sold out. Don’t get too upset, though! He comes back during a second wave of touring to Austin’s Austin Music Hall on April 21 and Houston’s Bayou Music Center on April 22. Get your tickets fast!
His first single, “Take Me to Church,” can be heard on radios all throughout the world. With its soulful sound and intense lyrics such as “I was born sick/ But I love it/ Command me to be well/ Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen,” this song is just a little taste of what the rest of the album is like. From sweet, slow ballads like “Work Song” to happy, upbeat songs like “Jackie and Wilson,” Hozier never strays from his bluesy nature. The acoustic vibe in one song can be totally transformed into something completely different, like an island vibe from his second single “From Eden” or an old rocker vibe in “It Will Come Back.” Tap your toes to “Something New,” or lose yourself in the sultry sound of “Cherry Wine.” There is something here for every mood you could possibly be in. You can get “Hozier” on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify; it is an absolute must-have.
