Say the name “Hozier” anywhere and you’re likely to turn heads. Known as the 34-year-old singer-songwriter from Ireland, Hozier has continued to make waves in the oceans of soul and indie folk rock music. Filled with instrumental creativity, artistic lyricism and those unmistakable Hozier-esque vocals, “Unaired” brings the musician to even newer heights. The EP consists of three new tracks: “Nobody’s Solider”, “July” and “That You Are.” The latter was produced in collaboration with singer-songwriter Bedouine.
“Unaired” comes after the August 2023 release of Hozier’s third album, Unreal Unearth. This 16-track album was ranked 27th on Billboard‘s 50 Best Albums of 2023 and 3rd on Esquire‘s 20 Best Albums of 2023. Each song is framed around the nine circles of Hell, a concept Hozier found inspiration in while reading Dante’s Inferno. The three songs released in the newest EP also tie into the same world and continue the storyline.
“Nobody’s Soldier”
Jam packed with lyrical intensity and fast tempi, “Nobody’s Soldier” highlights feeling helpless amidst worldwide war and violence. A groovy bassline and strong reverberated guitar riffs accompany Hozier’s vast vocal range. In the chorus, Hozier sings about feeling internally conflicted about his current state:
I don’t wanna choose
Between being a salesman or a soldier
Just let me look a little older
Let me step a little bolder
Choose between being a butcher or a pauper
Honey, I’m taking no orders
I’m gonna be nobody’s soldier
– “Nobody’s Soldier”
In a July 5, 2024 interview, Hozier teased the anti-war song by announcing a plan to release another EP of Unreal Unearth music. “Nobody’s Soldier” was teased again in a short clip on August 1, and then performed live during Hozier’s Lollapalooza set.
Hozier has also released the official music video for “Nobody’s Soldier”, which was directed by Daniel Ryan and has garnered over 1.6 million YouTube views. The video itself displays a variety of intentional messages, showcasing clips of a money symbol on a static-filled TV, amputated plastic doll legs on a conveyor belt, and business words such as “OPPORTUNITY”, “PROSPERITY”, “REVENUE”, “COMMODITY” and “REAL ESTATE.”
The audience is also shown a clip of a man reconstructing a doll out of the dissected plastic parts and dressing them in a soldier’s uniform. A clip of a man adjusting the tie on his suit exemplifies the type of corporate lifestyle Hozier seeks to escape. He rejects this modern lifestyle by singing his wishes to be “nobody’s soldier.”
“July”
3 minutes and 34 seconds of syncopated rhythms and melodic piano later, and one has Hozier’s second track, “July.” Lyrics such as “But you arrived like / sunlight in the gloom” and “Blooming beyond us / like the promise of / July, July” give the piece an emotional and soulful feel. In an interview with Parade, Hozier talks about his intentions for writing this song:
‘July’ is something I wrote during the pandemic. July was always the month when Ireland was supposed to open up again. So it was a song I wrote years ago. Much like a lot of the work on the record, you know? So it was a song about looking forward to something, perpetually looking ahead.” – Hozier in Parade
Ireland ultimately postponed the ending of COVID-19 restrictions due to cases increasing. In an interview with Q101, Hozier says, “You know what, it’s nice to just credit the times we’re living in.” By paying tribute to Coronavirus’s influence on his musical career, Hozier was able to create another catchy, passion-filled track.
“That You Are”
The final track on this EP is “That You Are”, an intimate acoustic piece that illuminates the perspectives of two possible lovers who crave each other’s presence despite living different lives. The first verse is deeply nostalgic, with Hozier softly singing “It’s the sound of it / that brings me there” and “The prayer is all of me.” His melancholic lyrics describe a life in a city “locked into the song of prayer.”
The chorus intertwines his vocals with those of Bedouine, a Syrian-American musician based in Los Angeles. Her female vocals make up the second verse, defining another perspective about an individual yearning for adventure and new experiences. “Maybe I have yet to venture out / See the places that I hear about”, Bedouine sings. Together, the two lovers sing that they will be “anywhere that you are” and “the prayer is all of me.” The combination of romance and religion make this song another staple in Hozier’s repertoire.
That I’d be
Anywhere that you are, that you are
That I’d be
Anywhere that you are, that you are
– “That You Are”
Hozier first released his debut album, Hozier, in September 2014. This eponymous album included hit singles like “Take Me to Church”, “From Eden”, “Sedated”, “Someone New” and “Cherry Wine.” “Take Me to Church” was a global sensation, topping charts in 12 countries and reaching the top ten in 21 others. It was also nominated for the Grammy Award Song of the Year at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards and was ultimately certified diamond in the U.S. His second album, Wasteland, Baby! was released in March 2019 and peaked number one on the Irish Albums Chart and US Billboard 200. And, finally, Hozier’s third album, Unreal Unearth was presented in August 2023 and became his first number-one album in the UK. It has since been followed by the EP release, “Unheard.”
Hozier is currently making his way across the west coast on his Unreal Unearth tour. Find more ticket information here. To stay up to date on Hozier’s career, check out his website, Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube. Listen to “Unaired” on these streaming platforms today.
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