Autumn 2023 is already shaping up to be an unforgettable one for Irish music – with a multitude of thrilling homegrown albums lined up for release over the weeks and months ahead. Among the most eagerly anticipated of these is CMAT's upcoming second LP, Crazymad, For Me. As such, we're proud to present the Dublin pop sensation as the captivating cover star of the new issue of Hot Press...

A year-and-a-half after the release of her Choice Prize-winning debut LP, If My Wife New I’d Be Dead, CMAT returns with her unapologetically frank new spin on the ‘break-up album’: Crazymad, For Me. During a visit home to Dublin, she sits down with Lucy O'Toole for a remarkably wide-ranging conversation about feminism, Irishness, transphobia, the church, KNEECAP, Sinéad O’Connor, Fontaines D.C., Bertie Ahern and more…

Elsewhere in the issue...

Having gone from viral stardom to the Main Stage at Longitude, the time has now come for Drogheda rapper Offica to release his debut solo mixtape, Hokage. He talks graduating, identity, family, and expanding his sound beyond drill...

Offica. Credit: Terna Jogo

Stuart Clark was among the invitees as The Rolling Stones announced the release of their first album of original songs since 2005, Hackney Diamonds, with a shindig in the Hackney Empire. He reports on how it all went down...

M(h)aol have been described as the brightest and most compelling bands to emerge from Ireland over the past decade. But for lead vocalist and main songwriter Róisín Nic Ghearailt, there was always an enormous question mark hovering. In a special piece, she reflects deeply on the relief she felt when she she was asked to leave the band – and looks to the future with hope...

Acclaimed director John Carney on his compelling new movie, Flora And Son, which explores how music changes the lives of a single mother and her teen son...

After making their major label debut earlier this year, The War and Treaty talk Irish wrestlers, collaborating with Zach Bryan, and their journey from homelessness to Nashville...

As they prepare to release Cousin, their 13th studio album, Wilco’s Glenn Kotche talks about the record's creation, collaborating with red-hot producer Cate le Bon and achieving that ‘good old Ringo sound’...

Wilco at the 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin 8.9.2023 Copyright Colm Kelly

Holly Humberstone discusses her stellar offering Paint My Bedroom Black, working with Bombay Bicycle Club, and the pop-punk revival...

Icky romance, the end of the world and the importance of Sinéad O'Connor are all on the agenda as Hot Press sits down with soft-rock royalty Laura Pergolizzi, aka LP, to discuss their fantastic new album, Love Lines...

Having survived a bout of ultra-violent gun-play with rival assassins, Paul Nolan finds a safe spot to report on a unique “immersive experience” in London, as he attends the launch of Amazon’s barnstorming John Wick spinoff, The Continental...

In Lies We Tell, the traditional gothic tropes of a woman in a house fighting against forces hellbent on undoing her are giving a modern and feminist approach by director Lisa Mulcahy. Roe McDermott meets the film's lead actress, rising star Agnes O'Casey...

With the final season of hit Netflix series Sex Education having just arrived, Molly Cantwell gets the lowdown from creator Laurie Nunn.

Ex-IRA prisoner turned author Richard O’Rawe tells us about his new book, Stakeknife’s Dirty War, which examines the story of Freddie Scappaticci, the one-time member of the IRA’s Nutting Squad, who was sensationally revealed to be a British agent...

Meanwhile, as part of this month's A&R Department, we spoke with rising stars Tara Devi and CABL about their latest releases.

Tara Devi. Credit: @mariaonfilm_

As Hot Press seeks to maintain and deepen the vital conversation around mental health, a selection of the country's top musicians share their experiences.

And, Dave Reid, the founder of Minding Creative Minds, tells us how the organisation continues to enhance its programme to support the Irish creative community – from mental health services, to everyday career advice.

Plus – we bring you the second part of our action-packed Student Special, which includes:

• All the cultural essentials you need for the new term, covering classic student albums, books and TV.
• Being a student is hard. Working is hard. And being a student that has to work to stay afloat is really hard as Ali Toohey explains.
• This is a torrid time for students in Ireland. But USI President Chris Clifford is planning to campaign fiercely for a better deal for everyone attending college. In his first major interview, he explains what the coming year holds in store for people attending college in Ireland.
• More and more students with intellectual disabilities are exploring their options in third level education – and are going on to find a course, and ultimately a career, that they’re passionate about. Pierce O’Riordan-Walsh tells us about his own journey through education, and his big plans for the future...

And that's not all! You'll also find interviews with the likes of Ian Broudie, Mike Garry, Naoise Roo, Diarmuid Hester, and Eamon Carr, as well as brilliant previews, news and reviews – including unmissable insights into brand new albums from The Mary Wallopers, CMAT, Jorja Smith, Sufjan Stevens, Melina Malone, and more...

So don't miss out! Pick up a copy of the new issue of Hot Press in shops over the coming days – or order online below: