Hailing from Bray, County Wicklow, Hozier studied music at Trinity College Dublin, where he became involved with the Trinity Orchestra and later toured with the Irish choral group Anúna from 2009 to 2012, appearing as a soloist on their 2014 album Illuminations. He performed at Ireland’s Oxegen festivals in 2009 and 2010, honing his craft in live performance and composition.
Hozier broke through in 2013 with the haunting and socially charged single “Take Me to Church,” which he wrote while playing open mic nights in Dublin. Released as the title track of his debut EP, the song went viral after actor Stephen Fry shared its black-and-white music video highlighting homophobia. It eventually peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, achieved multi-platinum certifications worldwide, and was nominated for Song of the Year at the 57th Grammy Awards in 2015. That same year, he performed the track with Annie Lennox at the ceremony and again at the Billboard Music Awards and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Following the success of “Take Me to Church,” Hozier released his self-titled debut album, Hozier, in September 2014, blending blues, gospel, and rock influences. The album included tracks from his previous EPs, as well as hits like “From Eden,” “Sedated,” “Work Song,” “Someone New,” and “Cherry Wine.” The project debuted at number one in Ireland and number two on the US Billboard 200, earning multi-platinum certifications in both countries.
In 2016, Hozier contributed “Better Love” to the soundtrack for The Legend of Tarzan before taking a year-long hiatus to return to Ireland and refocus creatively. He returned in 2018 with the EP Nina Cried Power, whose title track became a number-one hit on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart and paid tribute to civil rights-era protest musicians.
His sophomore album, Wasteland, Baby! (2019), debuted at number one on both the Billboard 200 and the Irish Albums Chart. The album, which explored apocalyptic and emotional themes, received gold certification in the U.S. and further cemented Hozier’s standing as a powerful voice in modern music.
In 2022, Hozier collaborated with composer Bear McCreary on “Blood Upon the Snow” for the blockbuster video game God of War: Ragnarök. The following year, he released his third studio album, Unreal Unearth (2023), which debuted at number one in both Ireland and the UK. The album was followed by the EP Unheard in 2024, featuring “Too Sweet,” Hozier’s first number-one single across Ireland, the UK, and the US.
In 2025, Time magazine named Hozier one of the 100 most influential people in the world, a testament to his enduring impact on music and culture. With a career defined by poetic depth, social consciousness, and emotional resonance, Hozier remains one of the most respected and compelling artists of his generation.