Hozier’s new EP Nina Cried Power will be released today and he’s described it as a small taste of his long-awaited second album, which is due for release early in 2019.
This will be the first major release from the platinum-selling singer since his debut album in September 2014 and his single Better Love, which featured in the 2016 blockbuster The Legend of Tarzan.
Tracks on the new release include NFWMB, Wasteland, Baby and No Plan.
“I’m thrilled to release the Nina Cried Power EP on September 6,” Hozier tweeted on Monday. “This collection of songs is an example of what I’ve been working on in the last while and will be a small taste of what is to be expected from the upcoming album.”
He has described the EP’s gospel-tinged title track as a “song about protest songs” and has said it is his way of honoring the freedom-fighting singers of years past – including Mavis Staples, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield and, most notably, Nina Simone, who inspired the song’s title.
The 28-year-old Bray singer, who sang with Staples at Electric Picnic over the weekend, has also confirmed that his long-awaited second album is due in early 2019 with guests including Booker T. Jones of Booker T and MGs.
The as yet to be titled album was recorded in London and L.A. with producers including Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire, Coldplay) and Rob Kirwan (U2, Depeche Mode), who also produced his 2014 eponymous debut.
He is also set to play a special series of intimate gigs this week in Dublin’s Academy, with proceeds going to the charities One in Four, The Peter McVerry Trust, and safe Ireland.
He has also lined up dates in New York this month.
Hozier recently performed at the Stand4Truth rally in Dublin, which was organised as an act of solidarity with victims of clerical abuse during the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland last month.
The singer’s self-titled debut album has sold over a million copies worldwide, with lead track Take Me To Church going eight times platinum in Canada and reaching No.2 in both the US and the UK. The stirring video the song have also been viewed 399,558,460 times.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine ahead of the release of his new EP, Hozier said he struggled with the impact of sudden success and fame.
“My head was spinning. It took a long time for me to even make sense of it all.” he said.
“I don’t want to dwell on the past too much,” he added. “But yeah, there were some really rough moments at the beginning.”
Keep up with the release of the new EP with Hozier on Twitter @Hozier
- Kanye West Apologises For Being Caught On Phone During The Cher Show - December 6, 2018
- Beastie Boys: Live And Direct @ EartH Hackney - December 3, 2018
- Robbie Williams In Line For Massive Set at British Summer Time Festival - December 3, 2018