Dublin duo We Cut Corners say that the growing global success of Hozier has been good for Irish acts but that Villagers may have been the gateway to Hozier's initial breakthrough.
Speaking to RTÉ TEN, Conall Ó Breacháin of We Cut Corners said: "The Hozier thing is just mind-boggling and I don't mean I don't understand it from the point of view of the talent - of course, he's insanely talented and he's made an amazing album, but that level of success is just otherworldly."
He continued: "It's like U2 - once in a blue moon. But I'd be looking at someone like Villagers and Conor O'Brien who perhaps might have served as a gateway to Hozier because Conor had this immediate, unquestionable, critical acclaim right from his first EP."
Ó Breacháin added: "It was almost from that I would have seen a real change in the scene and a new proliferation of bands, and then someone like Hozier comes along and blows it out of the water altogether.
"I'm sure that the big major labels will now be looking for the next Hozier. People like Gavin James being signed is also a big deal. It's an exciting time and it's exciting to be part of it."
We Cut Corners are taking part in tonight's tenth anniversary celebration of The Choice Music Prize in Dublin's Mansion House in a line-up which also features former Choice Prize winners Julie Feeney, Delorentos, The Divine Comedy and Adrian Crowley.
Read TEN's full interview with We Cut Corners here.
