Music

Hozier goes straight to Number 1 in US ... ‘Can’t put it into words’

Hozier’s Wasteland Baby tops US charts in its first week, supplanting A Star is Born soundtrack

Hozier ‘Thank you, so so much to the fans. This is handmade, homemade music and your support of that is everything.’ Photograph: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Amy O'Connor
Mon Mar 11 2019 - 12:11

Hozier’s latest album Wasteland, Baby! has topped the charts in the US in its first week of release.

The singer’s second album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, knocking the A Star is Born soundtrack from its perch. According to Billboard, the album earned 89,000 album equivalent units of which 75,000 were album sales.

This is Hozier's first album to reach number one in the US. Previous Irish artists to achieve this feat include U2, Sinead O'Connor, and Niall Horan.

On Twitter, Hozier expressed gratitude to his fans, record label, and management team.

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“Can’t quite put it into words,” he tweeted. “Thank you, so so much to the fans for this #1. This is handmade, homemade music and your support of that is everything.”

"Thank you to my incredible team @ColumbiaRecords, @Rubyworks. Thank you to @CarolineAtMCD and Denis Desmond! "

Wasteland, Baby! has achieved success elsewhere, too, claiming the number one spot in Ireland and top ten placings in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

It's been a busy couple of weeks for the Bray singer-songwriter. Last week, an impromptu performance in a New York subway station went viral. He also performed live on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Tonight he kicks off his largely sold out North American tour in Albany, New York. He is due to return to Ireland this summer for two shows in Cork and Belfast.

Hozier first burst onto the scene in 2014 with his breakout single Take Me To Church. That song proved hugely successful in the United States and peaked at number two in the Billboard Hot 100. It subsequently garnered a nomination for Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards.

His eponymous debut album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 Albums Chat and sold close to a million copies.

HozierNiall HoranSinead O ConnorDenis DesmondStephen Colbert