Under a single, bright blue spotlight, Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, known professionally as Hozier, opened the first night of a three-day, sold-out show at the Kia Forum in Inglewood on September 17th. With a haunting, booming voice and a handful of band members in tow, Hozier was greeted by thousands of fans who sang along to his opening song, “De Selby (Part 1).”

Hozier is an Irish singer-songwriter who first rose to fame with his hit song “Take Me to Church” and recently had his first number one hit with “Too Sweet,” which went viral on TikTok. Known for his thoughtful, challenging lyrics and flair for catchy melodies, he rose to fame with a fusion of folk and blues and his powerful vocal ability, carrying the weight of lyrical themes covering specific religious and political viewpoints. Hozier grew up religious and sang in the choir, a skill he uses in his impressive choirs, and a subject on which he has complicated feelings that he approaches with unique metaphors.

Hozier mixed in songs from his entire catalog throughout the evening’s set, which impressively included hugely popular songs from each record. “Jackie and Wilson” is one of them, a fan favorite from his debut album, as evidenced when the audience joined in when he raised his hand in the air and back during the line “We call our children Jackie and Wilson, raise them up.” she flicked on rhythm and blues.” On “Dinner & Diatribes,” Hozier belted out a long, sustained note that showcased the vocal skills he’d honed during his time as a choir director before fame. He ended the song hilariously with a humble, almost shy, “Thank you.”

There were also very sweet, gentle moments with tunes like “Cherry Wine,” which he performed on the B stage at the back of the audience. It showed just how skilled his guitar skills are, as his fingers picked deftly and played so lightly and in sync that it was almost as if his vocals and instrumentals were always in unison and never existed separately.

“Francesca” also began subdued and intimate, then escalated into a thunderous ballad and ended with a couple of life-sized prop trees, their branches drooping like arms, hanging upside down from the ceiling. Tonally and visually, it was funny and spooky, Hozier’s trademark.

These themes were most present on “Movement,” a song built in a minor key, serpentine and cunning, supporting lyrics like “When you move, I could never define all that you are to me.” Then it explodes into a major key as he urgently sings “So move me, baby,” in perhaps the most powerful voice I’ve ever heard live.

Hozier also complemented the extremely grand, often melancholic music with some facts about bees and how they make honey heath, which Hozier says is particularly “thick.” He said that as the tour went on he ran out of bee facts but still managed to find a few to share.

A special guest was also invited, as Hozier enthusiastically announced before introducing Bedouine and performing “That You Are.” It was a touching moment as the two played off each other vocally and there was an intense buzz between them. Another duo appearance and a staple on the setlist for this tour was opening act Allison Russell and their collaboration “Wildflower and Barley.” “Important, urgent and healing,” Hozier says of Russell, praising her.

However, the most touching moment of the evening was created by the fans who developed a project for the evening of one of Hozier’s forum dates. They bonded over social media before the show and surprised him with an Irish flag made of lights flashing in the stands while watching “What That I” – with the top bowl holding green paper in front of the lights of her phone, the bottom one The bowl only holds its lights and the floor holds orange paper for the duration of the song. Hozier smiled bashfully several times during his performance and emphatically repeated, “Thank you.”

Towards the end of the evening, Hozier played “Take Me to Church” while excerpts from the music video played in the background, showing two men kissing and hugging. Hozier then hung a Pride flag on his microphone and walked away as the lights went out. As previously mentioned, Hozier’s passions in his writings revolve heavily around social and political justice, which he made the audience aware of.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from,” Hozier said confidently. “We believe that every citizen should have the right to vote. That wasn’t always the case. We assume that women have the right to vote. This had to be fought for… We believe that women should have reproductive rights. That members of the LGBTQ+ community should have the same rights as us…”

The audience cheered in agreement as he continued with a call to action: “If you feel called to ask your representatives for a ceasefire… I urge you to do so.”

It was unique to see such a popular act make such strong statements to the audience, especially at such an important time as election season. It was particularly unique for an Irish act to do this on their US tour. Regardless of an artist’s stance on an issue, in an increasingly technology-heavy world, an artist’s opinions are strongly tied not only to their brand, but also to fans’ perceived relationship with that artist, which in turn often has an immense influence on the brand’s thoughts and actions of fans.

To finish his thoughts, Hozier said seriously, “Thank you for letting me speak for the heart for a second.”

It was an apt final word, both in terms of content and music. An incredible writer, Hozier has been able to maintain such a successful career with influences that set him apart. His story and passions are manifested in his thoughts and words, and like the best songwriters, as he says, you can truly tell he speaks from the heart.