Hozier’s Musical Growth: Tracing the Artist’s Journey Across Three Albums

Andrew Hozier-Byrne, known on stage as Hozier, hails from Bray, Ireland, and has captured fans' hearts with his haunting melodies and meaningful lyrics. Drawing inspiration from his Irish heritage, Hozier burst onto the music scene in 2013 with his breakout single, "Take Me To Church." Continue reading to track Hozier's artistic evolution across his three studio albums.

While living near Dublin with his parents, Hozier spent his evenings performing at open mic nights and recording demos in the attic. Hozier had studied music at Trinity College in Dublin but dropped out to pursue a musical career. In 2013, Irish label Rubyworks asked sound engineer, mixer, and producer Rob Kirwan to work on an EP from a new artist.

"Take Me To Church" is a soulful, desperate ballad that references religion, love, and sexuality. After its release, the song topped charts around the world. The song used complex time signature changes and is "a ballad that blends together blues, gospel, folk, and soul" (Medium). The musicality of the song was rivaled only by the depth of its message, which laid the groundwork for Hozier's signature style. Hozier received a GRAMMY nomination for the track.

Hozier released his self-titled debut album, Hozier, in 2013. The Irish folk musician continued to blend genres in hit singles such as "From Eden" and "Work Song." The album received positive reviews. Rolling Stone's Jon Dolan wrote that "Hozier channels Van Morrison's Celtic R&B, Southern soul and Black Keys-style garage blues into intimately roiling songs."

As with "Take Me To Church," the many songs on Hozier's debut album made literary and cultural references. Here are a few examples:

In 2019, Hozier released his sophomore album, Wasteland, Baby!. The highly anticipated album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, and the single "Nina Cried Power" reached No. 1 on Billboard's Adult Alternative chart. As with Hozier, this album took inspiration from authors and poets, namely T.S. Eliot, W.B. Yeats, and Seamus Heaney.

With powerful ballads and heart-wrenching melodies, Wasteland, Baby! covered social justice issues such as climate change and immigration. Hozier spoke about his goal with this album, saying it was about "finding some silver lining, something to hang onto, and something that provides you with some amount of hope." Literary references from the album included:

One creative deviation from Hozier was the collaborative spirit of Wasteland, Baby!. "Nina Cried Power" featured R&B and gospel legend Mavis Staples. In this soulful "thank you note to the spirit and legacy of protest," Hozier and Staples' voices mingled perfectly over a background gospel choir. Booker T. Jones also played the organ on the track.

While there was thematic resonance between Hozier's first two albums, Wasteland, Baby! had a more cohesive sound and less twang than Hozier. Compared to his debut album, which had a homegrown feel, Wasteland, Baby! combined precise production, powerful singing, and poetry.

Hozier's third studio album, Unreal, Unearth, was released on August 18, 2023. Directly inspired by Dante's Inferno, each of the 16 tracks on the album touched on themes and feelings from its source material. Unreal, Unearth debuted at No. 1 on the Irish and U.K. charts and peaked at No. 3 in the U.S.

The biggest inspiration for Unreal, Unearth was Dante's Inferno, which Hozier wrote during the COVID-19 pandemic as he read the book. The album takes you on a journey through each of the "nine circles of Hell" described by Dante. For example, the song "First Time" represents the state of limbo, while "Francesca" touches on lust and draws inspiration from the story of Francesca da Rimini.

Hozier was also inspired by Flann O'Brien's novel, The Third Policeman. Specifically, in "De Selby (Part 1),” Hozier referenced the main character from O'Brien's novel and called back to the character's reflections on self, eternity, and love.

Unreal, Unearth was the first time Hozier sang in Irish (Gaeilge), the native language of Ireland. "Butchered Tongue" referenced the British administration's attempts to destroy the Irish language. In "De Selby (Part 1)," Hozier croons in Irish during the song's haunting outro. Hozier's use of the language demonstrated his creative evolution and continued expression of his Irish identity.

Through his three studio albums, Hozier has retained a genre-blending sound while deepening his emotional and cultural explorations. Hozier drew on his personal experiences and established his place in the industry. Wasteland, Baby! explored social and global issues and prompted collaboration. Unreal, Unearth marked a distinctive shift into emotional and cultural themes.

Despite the prominence of "Take Me To Church," Hozier has proven his ability to evolve creatively, musically, and lyrically. He has balanced his success with immense humility, resulting in painfully honest, soulful music. Exploring Hozier's complete discography prompts reflection and stirs emotion in the listener. It's safe to assume his future work will continue to evolve creatively while communicating a deeper message about the human experience.