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Let the music move you in Hozier’s “Sweet Music” video

Hozier | still from video

Irish singer-songwriter Hozier knows a thing or two about connecting music with deep sentiment, and in his new music video, he adds an element of motion to all that emotion.

The snappy “Sweet Music” boasts a slight electronic groove and a massively catchy melody, and as the song plays out, we find Hozier performing it in a warehouse space, surrounded in various corners by musically-inclined people dancing to the rhythm: a cellist and a jazz trio, a tap dancer and a couple pulling interpretive moves in their apartment. Continue reading →

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Hozier headlines #XPNFest’s Friday lineup, with Dawes, Bettye LaVette, Japanese Breakfast and more

Hozer | photo courtesy of the artist // Dawes | Magdalena Wosinska // Bettye LaVette | photo by Mark Seliger | courtesy of the artists

The XPoNential Music Festival presented by Subaru returns to the Camden Waterfront in just a few short months, the weekend of July 26, 27, and 28.

Headlining the BB&T Pavilion on Friday, July 26 is Irish singer-songwriter Hozier, who debuted in 2013 with “Take Me To Church,” a ubiquitous song that led his 2014 self-titled album to double-platinum status. He returned earlier this month with his sophomore album, Wasteland, Baby! Watch him perform the opening track, “Nina Cried Power,” on World Cafe below.  Continue reading →

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Announcing Live at the World Cafe Volume 45, featuring Hozier, John Prine, Neko Case and more

Attention World Cafe fans — there will soon be another compilation CD to add to your collection. Live At the World Cafe Volume 45 will be available to XPN members this winter, and it features performances from some of our favorite artists.

Chances are a lot of the songs on the CD are ones you haven’t been able to stop listening to over the last year, from Neko Case‘s infectious “Bad Luck” to The War & Treaty‘s rousing “Healing Tide.” The compilation features trusty favorites like Dawes and Amos Lee, newer voices like Rayland Baxter and Rainbow Kitten Surprise, plus a few artists who made comebacks recently, like John Prine and Belly. All tracks on the compilation were recorded live right here in Philly for NPR’s World Cafe. Continue reading →

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Hozier’s new album will be out next year, releases video for lead single “Movement”

Hozier | Photo by: Ellen Miller for WXPN | ellencm.com
Hozier | photo by Ellen Miller for WXPN | ellencm.com

Hozier has revealed some details about the new music that lies in his future. We don’t have an album title or an exact release date yet, but we do know that the Irish singer-songwriter will release his next record in early 2019. The first single from the forthcoming LP is out now; called “Movement,” it’s a powerful song that builds quickly in intensity and is matched in tone by its accompanying video, directed by Chris Barrett and Luke Taylor and starring Sergei Polunin. Continue reading →

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Hozier is theatrical, yet intimate at a soul-filled Fillmore set

Hozier | Photo by: Ellen Miller for WXPN | ellencm.com
Hozier | photo by Ellen Miller for WXPN | ellencm.com

Did you know that Andrew Hozier-Byrne – Ireland’s Hozier – is 6.5 inches tall? I didn’t, despite having witnessed him in concert since he started touring the states in 2014 with his fluid, stately baritone voice and his spiritual / sensual lyrical éclat fully intact for a newbie. Hozier’s towering stature was an essential element of his sold out live showcase at The Fillmore on Wednesday night for a first local tour stop after disappearing for three years to woodshed and write songs. As he stood at the lip of the stage, his wild Adam Driver hair and lanky elongated frame seemed to extend its self over the crowd like Ichabod Crane’s spirit attached to a cherry picker crane. Continue reading →

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Hozier talks with Rolling Stone about the inspiration behind his upcoming EP Nina Cried Power

Hozier | photo by Jokko | courtesy of the artist

Andrew Byrne, who we know as Hozier, rose to fame when he independently released his well-known single “Take Me to Church”. The breakout track made its way to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and for months, on every pop radio in the world. With all the fame rushing to him, he was struggling and trying to get acclimated with what his life had become.  

Early 2017, Hozier returned home for his first break, in years, from all the craziness of touring. He immediately began writing and working on new material. During his time off, He spent much of his time on Twitter, witnessing the madness of the 2016 U.S. election.

There were people voicing their political beliefs and points of views from all around the world through social media. He spoke to Rolling Stone about what he saw, saying “It’s like the world is screaming into a fucking bonfire.” Continue reading →

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Just Announced: Hozier will play The Fillmore in October

Hozier | photo by Jokko | courtesy of the artist

It’s been a few years since we’ve heard from Hozier, but news has just broken that the Irish singer-songwriter will take us back to church this fall with an appearance at The Fillmore on October 3. The show will be a stop on Hozier’s first US tour since 2015, which followed the success of his 2014 self-titled debut album. Continue reading →