Wake up everyone, Hozier just released a new EP! The folktastic bluesy Irish singer-songwriter is back with even more songs from the sessions for his 2023 album Unreal Unearth. Although released almost exactly a year after the album, the tracks on Unaired were all created in tandem with the record. Hozier’s abundance of material from Unreal Unearth first emerged in Unearthed, released earlier this year.
The three-track EP starts with “Nobody’s Soldier,” a fiery anti-war song that has Hozier lean into his full range. The upbeat nature of the track is similar to his no. 1 hit “Too Sweet,” however, the lyrics are more aligned with Hozier’s live shows, which he finishes with calls for tolerance and peace: “I don’t wanna choose between being a salesman or a soldier / Just let me look a little older, let me step a little bolder / Choose between being a butcher or a pauper / Honey, I’m taking no orders, gonna be nobody’s soldier.” True to his outspoken nature, the song is bursting with power for a rousing four minutes.
The next two tracks are a complete shift, returning to a dreamy, blues-pop sound that’s more prevalent throughout his works. “July” is the sister song to Unearthed’s “Wildflower and Barley,” and the similarities are noticeable, especially when it comes to the chorus. “That You Are” features the Syrian American musician Bedouine, who lends her airy vocals to the harmonious track. The lyrics throughout Unaired are witty and raw, marking another successful chapter in his Unreal Unearth book.
Since the release of his third studio album, the longtime XPN favorite has been touring almost non-stop. His North American shows lead into September before he continues to Australia and New Zealand later in the fall. Watch the official lyric video for “July” below.