In The New Issue: Denise Chaila in conversation with President Michael D. Higgins – and an action-packed interview with Picture This

The wait is over – the new issue of Hot Press is finally here! This special dual-cover edition stars the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and Limerick artist Denise Chaila on one cover, and Irish mega-stars Picture This on the other.

Denise Chaila has established herself not only as a ground-breaking and award-winning artist, but also a profoundly influential voice in modern Irish society – using her platform to address some of the most crucial issues facing black Irish people today. She sits down with President Michael D. Higgins in Áras an Uachtaráin following the recent publication of his widely acclaimed book, Reclaiming the European Street: Speeches on Europe and the European Union, 2016-20, for what is a truly remarkable conversation about life, politics and the power of words.

"Let me be candid," Denise Chaila states. "I knew how I didn’t want to write this piece: 'A rapper and the President of Ireland walk into a pub – what happens next will shock you!' A gag. Uninteresting caricatures. No ma’am. But I knew what I was hoping for it to be. A meeting that perhaps would be as edifying as it is interesting. My intention entering this was to encounter a person; not a meme. And it was to be present as a person, not a single song..."

This is a historic and wonderfully memorable occasion, which will go down in the annals of Irish popular culture...

Meanwhile, following the success of 2019's MDRN LV – which they celebrated with an astonishing, unprecedented five-night run at the 3Arena, Dublin – Picture This are back with Life In Colour (out June 25).

Determined to let their fans know that better times lie ahead, Picture This are releasing an album of edgy pop bangers, packed with hit songs that aren't afraid to cause offence. Famous friends, greedy TDs, drugs, Harry Styles, Hollywood and getting up people's noses are all on the agenda as Hot Press deputy editor Stuart Clark gets to actually (not virtually) meet the band...

Elsewhere in the issue...

Cabra's Kojaque delivers a devastating critique of Dublin's establishment on his extraordinary new album. He weighs in on the controversy over Portobello Plaza, the demonising of young people and the impact of gentrification. And he explains why he, Fontaines D.C. and David Balfe's For Those I Love are fellow travellers.

With their hugely anticipated second album, Where I Should End, about to arrive, Northern folk duo Saint Sister discuss the LP's emotional directness, Stateside touring with Keane, and why they do actually feel like siblings.

After taking home the 2018 Mercury Prize for Visions Of A Life, Wolf Alice are back with Blue Weekend. Frontwoman Ellie Rowsell reflects on trad music, touring, social media and more.

From woe to joy, life has been a rollercoaster for Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner. She talks about her wonderful new album, Jubilee, and reflects on her literary success, the trauma of writing about the death of her mother, and the rise of hate crimes against Asian-Americans.

As he gets ready to release Utopian Ashes, his stellar new collaboration with Savages' Jehnny Beth, Bobby Gillespie discusses classic country records, punk transgression, NWA, Palestine and class politics. Oh, and Scotland's hotly anticipated Euro showdown with England.

As she releases her third album, Home Video, Lucy Dacus sits down to discuss nostalgia, Bernie Sanders, and working with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker in boygenius.

As Louise Nealon establishes herself as Ireland's brightest new literary star with her debut novel, Snowflake, she reflects on mental health, class, music and her book's upcoming adaptation by Element Picutres.

You can also look forward to interviews with Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Pa Sheehy, Gottfried Helnwein, Dallon Weekes, Michael Chaves, Patrick Gibson, and more.

Plus – Ivana Bacik on the housing crisis; Matthew Tallon on the closing of Portobello Plaza; and Eamonn McCann on the thorny theological questions posed by Boris Johnson's recent marriage to Carrie Symonds...

There's also all the news, previews, and reviews you'd expect of Hot Press – including the latest albums from Kojaque, Crowded House, Lucy Dacus, Bobby Gillespie and Jehnny Beth, John Grant, Picture This, Saint Sister, Sleater-Kinney and more.

So don't miss out! Pick up your copy in shops now, or order online below: