As we count down the days until the release of her hotly anticipated new album, Solar Power, we're thrilled to present Lorde as our new cover star – in the new issue of Hot Press, out today!

The pop megastar joins us live from New York, where – fresh from performing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert – she talks to Paul Nolan about life during the pandemic, Bobby Gillespie, Radiohead, fame, politics, the differences between Gen X and millennials, the making of Solar Power and more.

In the interview, she also touches on her Irish roots – revealing that she has yet to visit these shores...

"I’m so psyched to get there,” she says. “I’m dying to visit – I think I need to do a big personal trip. Any recommendations, please fire them over, because I’m really keen. I haven’t been to Croatia either, and that’s my other bloodline. They were on my list pre-Covid, and then obviously the plans got thwarted, so I’ll have to make it there!”

Elsewhere in the issue:

We bring you Part Two of our special Summer of Music feature. After a long, gigless year-and-a-half, we take a look at the tasty line-up of live events and festivals taking place around the country over the next few months...

Speaking of solar power and energy, Villagers return with their fifth studio album, Fever Dreams, Conor O’Brien sits down to talk spirituality, jazz, escapism, The Third Policeman, and early career advice from Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien...

Paddy Casey is back with a brand new double album, Turn This Ship Around. The Dublin singer-songwriter discusses experimenting with electronic music, living in the moment, and why early success felt “more like a trap than a freedom”...

As she releases the highly anticipated Woman On The Internet, Orla Gartland discusses starting her own label, exploring the London scene and 'embracing the uncomfortable' on her debut album...

Having worked on big budget projects with Ridley Scott and Guy Ritchie, Niamh Algar goes back to her indie roots with Censor, a whip-smart horror film that's delighting cinephiles. Retro gore, Stephen Graham and debutante director Prano Bailey-Bond are all on the agenda when she talks to Stuart Clark...

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II discusses his role in the powerful remake of Candyman, the cult horror classic that terrorised a generation...

Following the release of his acclaimed album, Love In These Times, Revelino's Brendan Tallon talks to Kate Brayden about going solo...

Tipped for major success on these shores and beyond, Dublin folk musician John Francis Flynn discusses recording his debut album I Would Not Live Always, the distinction between trad music and his own musical sensibilities, and why he quit the piano...

As the son of the late, great broadcaster Gerry Ryan, and the artist Moira Ryan, to date Rex Ryan has kept a relatively low profile. But he has been extremely busy sharpening his reputation as a top class thespian. Now, with film roles aplenty coming his way, and the opening of his Glass Mask Theatre in Dublin, he feels ready to step into the limelight. In his most in depth interview ever, he opens up to Hot Press about life, love, the media and art...

A thoroughbred rock 'n' roller, Malcolm Noonan was elected to the Dáil for the first time last year at the tenth count, and months later was appointed Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform by his party leader Eamon Ryan. He discusses his indie days, what triggered his activism, the Greens in government, climate change, biodiversity, housing, drugs and lots more...

There's also all the news, previews, and reviews you'd expect of Hot Press – including the latest albums from Villagers, The Killers, Billie Eilish, Orla Gartland, Willy Mason, Paddy Casey and more...

So don't miss out and issue that's packed with – what else? – Solar Power. Pick up your copy in shops now, or order online below: