Photo: Emma Viola Lilja
The rising star of Hozier couldn't get much higher - a chart-topping single, critical acclaim for his astonishing debut album, and a constant ascent into headlining bigger and bigger venues. Now, he's an Ivor Novello Award to add to his many honours. He owes it all to 'Take Me To Church', but such a massive song must surely come with a lot of weight and pressure?
Watch out video interview with Hozier below
"It seemed to be a real grower in a lot of places," Hozier told Gigwise after picking up the Ivor Novello for Best Song Musically And Lyrically for 'Take Me To Church'. "I was just trying to be as honest as possible with that song and put a conviction in it, put heart in it - and there's a raw energy to it. I'm not sure what really connected, but I'm very happy and proud of it."
But, like Radiohead have 'Creep', does Hozier feel the weight of the track? His album is incredible, but is there the burden of following it up?
"Possibly, I think there's two ways you can think about it: you can feel the weight of a song if you feel the pressure to continue that chart success. You can do things if you like, you can think of things in that way. I don't write music to chart... you have to trust your gut with your music, for me anyway. All you can do is just be honest and trust your gut - that's what I did the first time and that's hopefully what I'll do again.
Watch our video interview with Hozier below
The massive, searing folk-rock number has won Hozier fame around the world and atop the charts. Speaking to Gigwise about the religious nature of the track, Hozier described it as "an indictment of institutions that undermine humanity". Speaking of the video, he told us that it was inspired by the recent Russian smear campaign against homosexuality, which "put it in line with bestiality and paedophilia."
But now, what of his next album?
"I'm on the road at the minute, I've been on the road since May of last year there have been a lot of experiences, new things and new places, it's hard to define what and where it creeps into your consciousness, but I think I very much have to wait and see - I'm eager to see what shape the next album will take, what shape the new songs will take. I'm going to be on tour until March and I think it will be hard to find time to really work on stuff but I'm eager.
"I think I'm going to take my time. I'm not going to put out the second album until I'm ready. I think the only pressure is that obviously there are eyes on you, but you're only in competition with yourself at the end of the day. That's all thre is to it, I think for me."
