In one of the most hotly anticipated comebacks of the year, Irish music's biggest solo star has returned to the fray. Hozier struck a strong civil rights chord on his new single, 'Nina Cried Power', which found him hobnobbing with soul royalty in the form of Mavis Staples. In this extensive interview, he talks activism, pressures of stardom, magic nights on the town, outrageous hangovers, and his new incredible EP, with Stuart Clark.

Elsewhere on the music front, Interpol have returned with their finest album for over a decade. They talk to Ed Power about growing up, slimming down and continuing to be an important musical force after decades in the game.

Paul Nolan meets with the controversial - and brilliant - director Gaspar Noe, to talk about the cult auteur's creative inspiration, his love of Kubrick, drugs, scandal, and making some of the most phenomenal movies in recent years.

In the Hot Press Interview, Jason O'Toole meets with Ruth Coppinger TD, one of the leading voices on the Irish left. The Dublin West TD explains why she believes Leo Varadkar and Simon Harris were wrong to scoop up credit for the Repeal result, highlights to similarities between Varadkar and Trump, and explains why the next major battleground will be the separation of Church and State.

In our film section, Roe McDermott meets with the hugely acclaimed actress Constance Wu, who discusses her role in Crazy Rich Asians, which has been cited as a landmark film in its treatment of ethnicity onscreen. We also review the shocking new Irish film, A Mother Brings Her Son To Be Shot and Lenny Abrahamson's latest film, The Little Stranger.

In our book section, Peter McGoran meets with John Boyne, who tells us what inspired his successful new novel A Ladder To The Sky, and we review new releases from Cecila Ahern and Anthony Horowitz.

We also have a three-page round-up of all the action at Electric Picnic 2018, as we look at how this year became the biggest year yet for Irish artists.

On top of all that, we have a special 12-page spread on Irish fashion, with words from Roe McDermott and Stephanie Costello. Featuring Miss Ireland and Ireland's Next Top Model contestant Holly Carpenter, the best from the autumn fashion shows, an in-depth guide to Dublin's best vintage stores, and Ireland's finest up-and-coming designers, this is a guide to Ireland's fast approaching fashion revolution!

On top of all that, we also have interviews with the likes of Picture This, James Kavanagh and Bugzy Malone. as well as all the usual previews, reviews and news that you'd expect from Hot Press, including coverage of the newest releases from Spiritualized, Paul McCartney, Pale Waves and more.