When Hozier ’s 2013 debut single “Take Me to Church” became a worldwide viral hit, it looked like his success had peaked before he’d really got started. A righteous condemnation of religious homophobia that introduced Andrew Hozier-Byrne’s melodic blend of socially conscious, literate soulful folk and blues rock, it reached No 1 in 12 countries, with two and a half billion streams and counting. A decade and three albums later – including last year’s Dante’s Inferno-inspired UK No 1 third record Unreal Unearth – and Hozier has another global smash on his hands.
The TikTok assisted (as things always are these days) “Too Sweet”, a gospel-tinged pop semi-anthem about being the hedonist in an incompatible couple, has reached number one on both sides of the Atlantic, making Hozier the first Irish artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 since Sinéad O’Connor in 1990. At an uplifting, inclusive show at Finsbury Park, he was in typically gracious mood. “Thank you to everyone who streamed that song,” he said, which, by the sea of phones set to record as soon as the song’s staccato guitar struck up, was pretty much everyone in attendance.
It’s hardly the most remarkable of songs to become such a huge hit, but it does showcase the Hozier method: well-constructed tunes that are well intentioned – Hozier writes about Irish identity, love, religion and civil justice (he made a plea for Palestinian rights at the show’s conclusion). They’re also heartfelt, .