Hozier
An Irish songwriter whose haunting 2014 debut single fused blues, gospel, and social critique into a global phenomenon.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Irish musician·Birthday: March 17·Millennials
Biography
Andrew Hozier-Byrne, known simply as Hozier, arrived not with a whisper but with a soul-stirring roar. His 2014 single 'Take Me to Church,' a searing indictment of institutional hypocrisy set against a swelling blues-gospel arrangement, became an inescapable global hit. Far from a one-hit wonder, the Irish musician built a dedicated following with albums that delve into folklore, romantic torment, and political dissent, all delivered with his rich, resonant baritone. He operates in a space where the personal and the political collide, drawing from literary traditions and the earthy roots of American folk and soul to craft songs that feel both timeless and urgently contemporary.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Hozier was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hozier Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Hozier's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His debut single 'Take Me to Church' was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2015 Grammy Awards.
- His self-titled debut album reached number one in Ireland and the number two spot on the US Billboard 200 chart.
- He performed 'Take Me to Church' on Saturday Night Live in 2014, a key moment in his breakout.
- His 2023 album 'Unreal Unearth' is a conceptual work structured around Dante's 'Inferno.'
Did You Know?
He studied music at Trinity College Dublin but left before completing his degree to record demos.
Hozier's father was a blues musician, and he grew up listening to artists like John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.
He is an ambassador for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
The music video for 'Take Me to Church' has been viewed over one billion times on YouTube.
“I think the role of an artist is the same as the role of a lover. If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don't see.”
