Start Your Weekend With Poetry Readings From Hozier

The Wasteland, Baby! singer is hosting poetry readings for fans on Instagram every Friday.

From interviews to social media events, artists around the world are staying connected to their audiences virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, fans of indie rock singer Hozier have something new to celebrate the end of their week with. Hozier announced that he will be reading poems live on Instagram on Friday nights.

Last month, Hozier wrote on Twitter that he wanted to start a new series in order to take a break from Twitter to work on his new album. He asked fans what they wanted him to read, suggesting poems, short stories, novels, and even some Chomsky. Poetry readings ended up being selected, receiving 38.8% of votes.

Was thinking whether it’d be nice to do a series on IG or some such once a week, like a reading of some kind while I step back from twitter to work on the album. *If* I was to swing it, what would you like read to you

— Hozier (@Hozier) June 24, 2020

Hozier’s poetry sessions started on July 3. The videos are usually around 40 minutes long, and they feature the singer reading poems from his home. Some of the poems already included were “District and Circle” by Seamus Heaney, “Sadness” by Stephen Dunn, and “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T. S. Eliot.

In between poems, he also shares some of his personal commentary on them, as well as interacts with fans watching live.

If you’re a fan of a particular poem, you may want to try asking for it on Hozier’s social media. Before reading “St. Kevin and the Blackbird” by Seamus Heaney, Hozier shared that he remembered someone requesting it.

Another popular fan suggestion for the poetry readings was the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. The myth is well-known amongst fans of the singer, particularly because of the lyrics of his song “Talk.” In turn, Hozier read “Orpheus and Eurydice” by Ovid.

Hozier hasn’t mentioned how long the series will last, but hopefully, fans will get to listen to many more wonderful poems read by him.

Make sure to tune in to Hozier’s live poetry readings every Friday, usually around 8 PM GMT. If you miss it, don’t worry: You can watch it anytime on his Instagram page.