Kenzie Todd
Songs almost always have a hidden or deeper meaning to them. It can range from something simple to describing a major societal problem. Generally, music is better if it has something more under the surface, something that can be picked apart and analyzed, or something that teaches us about the world or reveals something that is going wrong. I may just be a Hozier fanatic, but I think that he completely embodies this trope in his music and songs. Like most people who listen to him, I discovered Hozier through his song, “Take Me To Church,” and was hooked almost instantly. The hold this Irish singer has over my Spotify Wrapped and playlists in general is definitely concerning, so I’d say I have a general consensus of his music and what it is trying to convey, — or maybe I’m just an English major, who knows?
This is pretty general knowledge, but Hozier is an Irish musician who produces music that draws from a variety of styles, namely jazz, folk, and soul. You probably know him from either “Take Me To Church,” or last spring’s biggest song, “Too Sweet.” Or maybe even “Would That I,” with the popular lyric of “True that I saw her hair like the branch of a tree.” Hozier is in no way underground, but a few things about him stay hidden. Namely, the way in which he is both an activist and an artist. Hozier has no problem speaking about current issues in his music, often making it the basis for what they are about. In response to reproductive rights being enforced upon, he wrote the song “Swan Upon Leda” which uses the Greek myth of Zeus and Leda to represent the lack of control women have over their bodies. “Jackboot Jump” and “Nina Cried Power” convey messages about the importance of standing up against corrupt and broken systems.
I’m not saying that every song has to have some inspirational or hidden meaning to it, but it’s important to recognize what you can do with music. Hozier’s music may sound like simple folklore music at first, but it’s worth your while to look at his lyrics and the symbolism within.