Hozier channels hometown, conservation in 'Like Real People Do' rerelease

Folk titan Hozier has released a new version of “Like Real People Do,” this time featuring NATURE and the sounds of his childhood home in County Wicklow. The remix integrates field recordings of wind, birds, and subtle environmental textures, creating a version that feels rooted in the landscapes that shaped the Irish singer-songwriter.

Half of the royalties from the track will go to frontline conservation efforts in some of the world’s most vulnerable ecosystems. The project, in collaboration with Sounds Right, brings together music and environmental stewardship in a way that is both thoughtful and deliberate.

For Hozier, Wicklow is more than a backdrop. Growing up in the Irish countryside, he absorbed the rhythms and textures of the natural world, which have informed his songwriting since his teenage years. The quiet moments in Like Real People Do reflect that early influence, with space in the arrangement and subtle melodic shifts that echo the landscapes of his upbringing.

Born Andrew Hozier-Byrne in Bray, Ireland, he began writing songs at 15 and taught himself guitar. His debut album in 2014 introduced him to a global audience, propelled by Take Me to Church, and established him as a singer-songwriter who blends intimate storytelling with broader cultural reflection. Tracks like “Work Song” and “From Eden” already hinted at his ear for texture, a quality that the new remix brings into sharper focus.

The addition of NATURE and the Wicklow field recordings transforms the track without altering its emotional core. The song becomes both a personal reflection and a wider statement, connecting human intimacy to the environment that shaped it.

This release coincides with a vinyl reissue of Hozier’s debut album, which includes previously unreleased bonus tracks such as “In the Woods Somewhere” and “Arsonist’s Lullabye.” The anniversary offers fans a chance to revisit the album and hear it reframed through the sounds of the Irish countryside, highlighting the landscapes that continue to influence Hozier’s music.