My 2024: Charleen Murphy, "Taylor Swift doesn't get the credit she deserves"

Your Hero of 2024?

Taylor Swift. She doesn’t get the credit she deserves for performing well over a hundred three-and-a-half hour concerts this year. I was lucky enough to go see her and I am so inspired by her and her success.

Villain of 2024?

Anxiety from Inside Out 2. Although I do feel she is misunderstood and turns it around in the end, she definitely is a villain in a lot of our own lives too!

Best Personal Moment?

Releasing my song ‘Superstar’. Singing has always been such a passion of mine. It’s really important to do things that the younger you would be so proud of.

Best Movie or TV show?

I was hooked on Tell Me Lies on Disney+. I rarely get time to watch TV shows, but I binge watched it in a few days.

Best record

Short n Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter. Every song is a hit and she’s brought something fresh to the music industry. I’m obsessed with her. My favourite track is ‘Slim Pickins’ - I love the country vibe it has.

Best book?

I’m not much of a reader, but I love What I Know For Sure by Oprah. They’re short excerpts of things she’s learned throughout her life and it’s a great pick-me -up for a bad day.

Best thing you saw online?

The Who TF Did I Marry? series on TikTok had me in a chokehold. It was like a tell-all documentary in Tik Tok format, and it was the start of the whole trend of exposing bad behaviour in a past friend or partner.

Your hope for next year?

Releasing another song is a huge goal for me – and I’m holding myself accountable saying it here! I hope for more success, but also taking some more rest than I do now. And those around me being healthy and happy. That is my biggest wish.

What tickled your funnybone?

The Willy Wonka Experience made my whole year. It was completely falsely advertised and it was so tragic. It was actually the funniest thing I have ever seen online. That’s my favourite kind of humour!

• Hold My Drink with Charleen and Ellie is available now wherever you get your podcasts. 

As Christmas and New Year hurtle ever closer – capping off another phenomenal 12 months of Irish music, sport, film, literature and more  – we're thrilled to present the brand new Hot Press Annual!

Inside, you'll find captivating conversations with Fontaines D.C., KNEECAP, Jazzy, LYRA, The Mary Wallopers, Gurriers, Daniel Wiffen, Irish Artists For Palestine and more – all taking us through their highlights of the year. Plus, the HP critics deliver their verdict on 2024 – including all the top albums, tracks, movies, books, quotes, photos and events...