Biography
Who is Hozier?
Early life and background
Andrew John Hozier-Byrne was born in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, on March 17, 1990. His mother, Raine, worked as an artist, while his father, John, was a local banker who also played as a jazz and blues drummer. Growing up, the musician faced financial difficulties after his father required a wheelchair following spinal surgery.
He attended Delgany National School and St. Gerard's School. During his youth, he taught himself to play the guitar and participated in his school choir. He later enrolled at Trinity College Dublin to study music education but left the program to pursue a career in the recording industry.
How Hozier became famous
While attending university, the musician joined the Trinity Orchestra and toured with the choral group Anúna from 2009 to 2012. In 2013, he wrote the song Take Me to Church while playing open mic events in Dublin. The demo led to a contract with the independent label Rubyworks Records.
His debut EP, also titled Take Me to Church, arrived in July 2013. The music video for the title track, filmed in black and white with a low budget, became a viral sensation after being shared by actor Stephen Fry. The song reached the top of charts globally, earned a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year, and secured multi-platinum certifications. In 2014, he performed the track on Saturday Night Live and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
Career highlights
His debut self-titled studio album was released in September 2014. It combined elements of folk, rhythm and blues, and soul. Several singles followed, including Someone New and Cherry Wine. After a hiatus, he returned in 2018 with the EP Nina Cried Power, featuring Mavis Staples.
His second studio album, Wasteland, Baby!, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and the Irish Albums Chart in 2019. This record included songs like Movement and Almost (Sweet Music). In 2023, he released his third studio album, Unreal Unearth, which reached the top spot on both Irish and UK music charts. The 2024 EP Unheard featured the track Too Sweet, which became his first number-one single in the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland.
Collaborations and activism
The musician often incorporates political and social themes into his songwriting. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he performed via social media to generate funds for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He also recorded a cover of The Parting Glass as a charity single for the organization.
He has collaborated with various artists and composers throughout his career. In late 2022, he worked with Bear McCreary on the track Blood Upon the Snow for the video game God of War: Ragnarök. He also participated in high-profile festivals, including Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, and Electric Picnic. Time magazine recognized him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2025.
Birthday and age
Hozier was born on March 17, 1990, which makes Hozier 36 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Hozier shares the date with 67 other famous people.
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