The 24-year-old Irish soul singer and guitarist, performed his song Jackie and Wilson live on NPR.
The song’s title is an homage to the great R&B singer Jackie Wilson. Jack Leroy “Jackie” Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer.
Known as “Mr. Excitement”, Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. Beginning in 1957, he recorded over 50 hit singles, over a career spanning two decades. In 1975 Wilson fell into a coma that persisted for nearly nine years until his death in 1984, at the age of 49.
Speaking with NPR, Hozier said Wilson had a dramatic affect on his music. “He’s a big influence for me, he’s fantastic. I think Elvis was the white Jackie Wilson, rather than any other way ’round.”
The Bray native continued speaking about the track dedicated to the R&B singer. “I suppose the song is about being lost. There’s sometimes a recurring theme of looking from the outside in and idealising some idea of somebody or something as a cure for oneself. It’s also me trying to enjoy writing something more fun, playing something more fun,” Hozier said.
Hozier’s self-titled album will be out on September 22nd and will released on Island Records. The album will contain tracks from the Irish singer’s previous two EPs, Take Me to Church and From Eden.
Hozier track list:
1. Take Me To Church
2. Angel Of Small Death And The Codeine Scene
3. Jackie And Wilson, Someone New
4. To Be Alone
5. From Eden, In A Week (Feat. Karen Cowley)
6. Sedated
7. Work Song
8. Like Real People Do
9. It Will Come Back
10. Foreigner’s God
11. Cherry Wine
