In one of her most impassioned and forthright interviews, Sinead O'Connor has told Hot Press why now is the time for everybody to put their full weight behind the Black Lives Matter movement.

"We all somehow created Trump," she says. "He couldn't exist without the zeitgeist. It's a posh word, so maybe I'm using it wrong but a prophet appears in its time. We're all in a way complicit. Musicians are also complicit if we don't do something. To me, Black Lives Matter has transcended itself. It's not only about Black Lives Mattering, it's about needing to get this man out of the fucking White House."

She has lots more – that is hugely colourful – to say about both Trump and his wife Melania Trump.

Sadly, Sinéad is yet to be convinced that Joe Biden is the man to ensure that Donald J. will be evicted from 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue come November.

"The candidate has to have more testosterone than Trump," she argues, "and unfortunately Biden doesn't. We've got to find out if Kamala (Harris) does."

Sinéad is doing her bit for the Black Lives Matter cause by releasing a spine-tingling version of the civil rights anthem popularised in 1959 by Mahalia Jackson,'Trouble Of The World', on October 2. The single – a truly intoxicating performance by Sinéad, on a record produced by David Holmes – will benefit Black Lives Matter organisations.

"Mahalia and the whole movement of that time were non-violent civil disobedience," Sinéad reflects. "It was a time when people were prepared to take bullets for each other. It's a time when the churches taught, which they haven't since, people to love and sit in the street with each other."

Along with her own experiences of witnessing racism in the United States, she has plenty to say about Ireland's need to deal with the obscenity that is Direct Provision.

"Just Google the history of Ballinamore and its Syrian refugees," she begins.

In a wide-ranging – and often highly entertaining interview – that runs over five pages and mixes matters of huge importance with the humour for which Sinéad is renowned, she robustly, and with considerable personal honesty, defends Adele over recent charges of 'cultural misappropriation'.

Sinead also tells us why not spending time talking to Nina Simone when she had the chance is her single biggest regret. Sinead presented the legendary singer with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Hot Press Awards, in Dublin in 2000.

Nina Simone may have been the hero who got away, but in an interview that will fascinate everyone with an abiding interest in black music, Sinéad recalls memorable encounters with Al Green, Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie and Anita Baker. She also has kind words to say about the late Lou Reed.

With the inside word also on the album Sinéad's recording in Belfast with David Holmes, a new memoir and her return to full-time education, it's an interview you really don't want to miss!

You'll also find in-depth interviews in the new Hot Press with our Flip Cover co-stars The Killers, IDLES, Angel Olsen, Mary Coughlan, Joshua Burnside, Pillow Queens, and a final interview with the late, great Toots Hibbert.

In the film section, Roe McDermott talks to stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter about their new film, Bill & Ted Face The Music.

We also have all the news, previews and reviews you’d expect from Hot Press, including album reviews of the latest releases from Denise Chaila, Sufjan Stevens, IDLES, Róisín Murphy, Pillow Queens, Ailbhe Reddy and more!

Don't miss out! Order your copy of the new issue of Hot Press below: