The music world has been waiting for Andrew Hozier-Byrne, more commonly known as simply “Hozier,” to release music for quite a while, to the point that fans on Twitter have been “at”-ing the artist directly to encourage the release of music. Recently, Hozier delivered a bit of a teaser, an extended play (EP) of four singles entitled “Nina Cried Power.” The four singles are nothing short of what we have expected from the creator of “Take Me to Church.”
The opener and title track, “Nina Cried Power,” features artist Mavis Staples, an American gospel singer and civil rights activist. The soulful track incorporates Hozier’s famously remarkable vocal range and gospel-esque backings. It is an exercise in passion. The song is a tribute to protest tracks of the past, specifically artist Nina Simone, who has been labeled “the high priestess of soul.”
The refrain of the song includes the line, “it’s not the waking. It’s the rising.” In other words, becoming “woke” in regard to social issues is just the first step; more importantly, one must become engaged in activism or “rise.” There has been an influx of popular artists writing about social activism, and Hozier’s contributions have been well-received. The accompanying music video for “Nina Cried Power” features a number of activists from Ireland, Hozier’s home country, as they listen to the track. The facial expressions of the listeners makes obvious the song’s emotional impact.
“Moment’s Silence,” the next track of the EP, is nostalgic for long-time Hozier fans, as it pulls in many familiar sounds and feelings from past albums. There is a dark lovability about the song’s rhythm and key, with lyrics about hedonism and shrugging off conservative attitudes. The lyrics seem to assert that there is a sacredness in physical expressions of love, despite religiously sex-negative attitudes.
Third is “Shrike,” which feels like the perfect backdrop to a sunset scenery. The beautiful track is simultaneously passionate and simple, just as we would expect from Hozier. The lyrics are about the frustrations one feels when reminiscing about a lost relationship. The speaker regrets not putting enough effort into expressing his feelings when he had the chance. “I couldn’t utter my love when it counted,” he laments, “But I’m singing like a bird about it now.” He says that he feels like the goodness within himself has left along with her.
The last track is my personal favorite, creatively titled “NFWMB,” which stands for “Nothing F—s With My Baby.” Yes, Hozier created his own acronym – a quintessential “power move” in music. The track itself is beautiful and enticing. After just one listen, the lyrics become lodged into your mind in a lovable way. You might just find yourself swaying and humming a few hours after a listen. It incorporates biblical themes, like many other Hozier songs. It is essentially a love song for the end of the world.
This is what we all have been waiting for. Finally. Hozier truly took his time to craft an EP that would represent his talents and passions. Fans are hoping that new music does not take quite so long in the future.
