Hozier in good company as he picks up Brit Award nomination

Bray singer-songwriter Hozier has recorded another milestone in his rapid rise to stardom, picking up a Brit nomination for International Solo Male.

The Bray singer-songwriter was nominated for a Grammy in December, going up against the likes of Taylor Swift and Sia for Song of the Year.

He's in good company again with his Brit nomination, facing off against Beck, Jack White, John Legend and Pharrell Williams

Elsewhere, Sam Smith heads the nominations, being shortlisted for five awards, narrowly ahead of Ed Sheeran and George Ezra who are up for four apiece.

Soul singer Smith, 22, is in the running for prizes such as best male, best album and best newcomer at the prize bash to be staged next month.

Rock duo Royal Blood will compete for a trio of awards, while singer Jess Glynne also finds her name on the shortlists three times as a guest vocalist on singles by Route 94 and Clean Bandit.

Smith, who has become one of the most played acts in the world over the past year, goes up against Sheeran, Ezra and Paolo Nutini for best male as well as Damon Albarn who collects his first Brit nomination in his own right after years of acclaim for his output with acts such as Blur and Gorillaz.

Smith’s release In The Lonely Hour lines up for the best album award against Sheeran’s x, Alt-J’s This Is All Yours, Ezra’s Wanted On Voyage and Royal Blood’s self-titled debut.

Take That were among the omissions from the nominations with their comeback as a trio failing to pick up any nods.

Although many of the British categories were dominated by male artists, FKA Twigs and Ella Henderson were among the female performers who picked up two nominations. They are both up for solo British female along with Jessie Ware, Lily Allen and Paloma Faith.

The British group category sees bass and drums duo Royal Blood taking on One Direction, Coldplay, Alt-J and Clean Bandit.

The international group category sees US act The War On Drugs – whose album Lost In The Dream was seen by many critics as a highpoint of 2014 – taking on Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit, along with more chart friendly names Foo Fighters, 5 Seconds Of Summer and The Black Keys.

Taylor Swift – who will be among the acts performing when the awards are staged on February 25 at the O2 Arena in London – has been shortlisted for best international female along with Beyonce, Lana Del Rey, Sia and St Vincent.

Best British Solo Male: Damon Albarn, Paolo Nutini, Ed Sheeran, George Ezra, Sam Smith British Solo Female: Ella Henderson, FKA Twigs, Jessie Ware, Lily Allen, Paloma Faith British Group: Alt-J, Clean Bandit, Coldplay, One Direction, Royal Blood British Breakthrough Act: Chvrches, FKA Twigs, George Ezra, Royal Blood, Sam Smith British Single: Calvin Harris — Summer; Clean Bandit ft Jess Glynne — Rather Be; Duke Dumont ft Jax Jones — I Got U; Ed Sheeran — Thinking Out Loud; Ella Henderson — Ghost; George Ezra — Budapest; Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars — Uptown Funk; Route 94 ft Jess Glynne — My Love; Sam Smith — Stay With Me; Sigma — Nobody To Love Mastercard British Album Of The Year: alt-J — This Is All Yours; Ed Sheeran — X; George Ezra — Wanted On Voyage; Royal Blood — Royal Blood; Sam Smith — In The Lonely Hour International Solo Male: Beck, Hozier, Jack White, John Legend, Pharrell Williams International Solo Female: Beyonce, Lana Del Rey, Sia, St Vincent, Taylor Swift International Group: 5 Seconds of Summer, The Black Keys, First Aid Kit, Foo Fighters, The War on Drugs