Hozier Hozier 2LP

It's not often that you stumble across a songwriter whose lyrics both sound and read like poetry. When those lyrics are set to music that balances burning indignation with lilting tenderness, and delivered in a voice imbued with the spiritual passion and yearning of gospel and the blues, you figure you've chanced upon something special. And so it is with 24-year-old Andrew Hozier-Byrne, an Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from County Wicklow who goes by the name of Hozier.

The Wicklow, Ireland native recently performed at the Newport Folk Festival to rave reviews. NPR's Tiny Desk said of his performance, "Gently bone rattling voice, winning a new audience one beautifully sung phrase at a time." Billboard remarked, "Folk Festival attendees were treated to a sneak preview of Irish wunderkind Hozier's impassioned, richly-textured invocations at Saturday afternoon's For Pete's Sake... 'Take Me to Church' was the real draw. People literally came running as soon as they heard the opening strains of that song."

Tastemakers and critics have wholeheartedly embraced his spirited and soulful sound. He's drawn praise from NPR, New York Magazine, KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, MTV Buzzworthy, Consequence of Sound, and more. Most recently he was featured on NPR's All Things Considered and Tiny Desk Concert. His invigorating performances of his single "Take Me to Church" on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Ellen DeGeneres Show engaged a growing audience.

The powerful single for "Take Me to Church" has accrued over 6.5 million views on YouTube, hitting #1 on Hype Machine as well as Billboard's Top New Artist Heatseekers Chart. He has also remained a constant on Spotify's Viral 50 chart. "Take Me to Church" is at Alternative Radio, where it is now Top 15 and on over 49 stations. Key early support at the Alternative format has come from Sirius XM Alt Nation, Radio 104.5 Philadelphia, FM 102.1 Milwaukee, Alt 98.7 Los Angeles, 107.7 The End in Seattle and Radio 105.7 in Atlanta, among others including KROQ Los Angeles. Furthermore, the first pop radio station to play "Church," WRVW/Nashville, is already over 150 plays in. The song reached #1 at AAA radio and currently stands at #2. Philadelphia's WXPN showed early support and selected "Take Me to Church" as their Gotta Hear Song of the Week and My Morning Download. Los Angeles' KCRW called him one of their Bands to Bank On for 2014 and also had him record a session on their Morning Becomes Eclectic program.