Hozier returns with the EP 'Nina Cried Power' and revives the spirit of the protest with the influence of American rock with black roots

His name is Andrew Hozier-Byrne, known as Hozier, and he is the artist behind the great hit 'Take Me To Church', released in 2014. The Irish singer became famous with a single full of social consent about the Catholic Church and the homosexuality.

Leer en español: Nina Cried Power: El regreso de Hozier

His debut album continued the run of success and that's how Hozier began to sound everywhere as a philanthropic singer and activist characterized by his rock-folk style and his inspiration in the blues. Singers like Demi Lovato made covers of his songs, he sang in the prestigious Victoria's Secret fashion show, and in the 57th edition of the Grammy's he sang along with Annie Lennox.

At the beginning of September, after many years without producing, the singer premiered an EP entitled 'Nina Cried Power'. Four songs compose the new work of the Irishman and start with a tribute to one of his great idols: Nina Simone. In an interview with The Guardian, Hozier said that from a very young age, he used to listen to Nina Simone's albums before going to sleep and therefore he greatly admires African-American music.

If you want to listen to the album, click here

The song Nina Cried Power is a collaboration with the legend of soul, Mavis Staples. It is a protest song that pays tribute to great musicians such as Nina Simone, John Lennon, BB King, and Marvin Gaye. Hozier commented for Billboard that blues music could not exist without one of the most horrendous atrocities such as the trafficking of black people in recent centuries.

For the singer, it was important to have the participation of Mavis Staples for the single and to make people remember that popular music would be nothing without the story behind many African-American singers. The video of the song pays tribute to Irish activists and is a great way to unite cultures and expand the debate about protest.

With his expected return, we can notice that Hozier sings to the senses. His music is honest and he takes care of every word so that the listener understands the reason for the song. The EP has rhythms of rock, folk, and soul to which is added the powerful voice of Hozier that comes with a more mature sound after a couple of years without a work of its own.

If this is just the EP, the album to be released in 2019 will be very promising because any of these songs could work as a single. NFWMB, Moment's Silence (Common Tongue), and Shrike are singles full of rock, blues, love messages, and biblical references as happened in 2014 with 'Take Me To Church'.

Also read: What did Aretha Franklin leave us?

Hozier is a reference of social activism from music. The EP Nina Cried Power revives the spirit of protest with the influence of American rock with black roots. The Irish reminds us that we are in the 21st century and there is still a lot to do at a social level. The 17 minutes of this EP is a reminder of that and a spark of hope for what the new album will be.

LatinAmerican Post | Diana Ramos
Translated from "Nina Cried Power: El regreso del cantante Hozier"