It was worldwide uproar and disgust that spurred Hozier to write, produce and release the first single from his upcoming third album. An incredibly topical subject over the last few years, women’s reproductive rights and the future of their bodily autonomy have consistently been a cause for unrest. ‘Swan Upon Leda’ touches on how this has been the case throughout history and how we are still dealing with it in this day and age.
“She was told he would come this time / Without leaving so much as a feather behind”: The subject of assault and the wellbeing of women is as relevant as ever and Hozier weaves the story of this ancient myth in with the struggles that many women still face today. W.B. Yeats also makes reference to this ancient legend referring to the assault of Leda by the ‘Swan’ in his poem ‘Leda and the Swan’.
Hozier has never been short when presenting us with his poetic abilities and all the better that he has nurtured the genius within him to evolve his talent and to strive towards musical expertise. ‘Swan Upon Leda’, while touching on topics such as women’s rights, is enriched with Hozier’s susurrant whispers, hypnotising us into a dreamscape. He treats us to his signature fingerpicking perfection as previously heard in ‘Shrike’ and ‘Cherry Wine’. His string section embellishes the chorus of the song along with his layered harmonies and synth to add a cohesive quality to the arrangement and exhibits the intricate nature of his complex works.
Unreal Unearth, his third studio album, is set to be released later this year.
Words by Nikki Raymond
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