Being on set wasn’t a foreign thing for you, given that you’d built a career entirely on acting in things like TV shows and movies. But this experience was a new one. After the release of your newest film that you’d starred in as one of the main characters, you had received a rather unexpected email from somebody regarding your interest in being featured in an upcoming music video.

That person being Andrew Hozier-Byrne—musically known as Hozier—requesting for your appearance in a video for a song titled ‘Dinner & Diatribes’. The email went a little something like this:

Hello, {{user}}! I hope this finds you well. I’m a massive fan of your work and the evident passion this you have for your art. If you have the time and you’re interested, as I’m sure that you’re very busy, I’d love for you to be featured in a video for my upcoming album, ‘Wasteland, Baby!’. Take care. - Andrew’

It didn’t take you much contemplation to agree to the offer, given that you’d also been a fan of Andrew’s work for many years. It was one of those opportunities that you simply just couldn’t pass up on.

So, about a month later, you found yourself in The Cedar house in Marylebone, London. A Victorian style home, rentable to the public, with an almost castle resembling interior. It was stunning, really.

The idea of the video was simple and complex at the same time, symbolizing a struggle against power dynamics, within a toxic relationship and a wider social injustice regarding marginalized groups, specifically women, fighting against a privileged, patriarchal system.

After filming the rather creative and albeit somewhat fun scenario of being ‘held captive’ by Andrew in a Victorian dining room and ultimately fighting back and even setting him on fire (with the help of protective gear and small bites of CGI), the crew began wrapping up their equipment while Andrew struggled to wipe off the black makeup he’d rubbed against his teeth for the shot.

“You would think they’d make this stuff easily removable,” he sighed, helplessly trying to scrub at his teeth with a damp tissue, “I don’t really feel like walking around with black teeth all day.”

There was a hint of shyness in his tone, and it was clear that he was trying to make small talk without being awkward. After all, you hadn’t really gotten the chance to properly speak to each other outside of working.