13 years ago today, Hozier released ‘Take Me To Church.' Working late one January night in 2013, Andrew Hozier-Byrne recorded the earliest vocal take of 'Take Me to Church' in his parents' attic in County Wicklow, Ireland, joined only by drummer Fiachra Kinder on the original demo. A struggling musician at the time, he's said the chorus and lyrics came together almost naturally once he sat down at the piano, following months of carrying pieces of the idea around beforehand. Independent label Rubyworks brought in producer Rob Kirwan to add live instrumentation, though Kirwan chose to keep Hozier's raw original vocal rather than re-record it, feeling it carried a rare authenticity. The song folds soul, blues rock, and gospel-pop into lyrics that use religious imagery to describe a romantic relationship set against Church-driven discrimination, with Hozier later explaining in interviews that the track is fundamentally about sexuality, humanity, and reclaiming personal dignity through lo...