Charlotte has been heard a lot on the radio and TV in recent weeks with the Christmas song ‘Sweet Christmas’ that she recorded together with Jim Bakkum. You know; I as a secret biggest fan am of course slightly jealous of that. Even though I can't sing. A good excuse to ask her for Thank God it's Friday, because I am absolutely curious about her week and her wishes, dreams, and plans for 2016, but I also have an excuse to ask: How was it?

Tell me, how was Christmas? Did you cook anything? If so, what?

‘Christmas was wonderful. On December 24th, we always go to Het Nationale Ballet during the day with my mother and sisters. Extra fun because a friend of mine is with Het Nationale Ballet . This is where Christmas really begins for me! We always celebrate Christmas Day with a lot of family and friends at my parents’ house, the table keeps getting longer and I always help my parents with cooking. I love cooking and I am a vegetarian myself, so I don't get involved with the traditional turkey, but I am responsible for the vegetarian menu. We always finish with delicious cakes from Holtkamp, especially the cheesecake is my favorite. On Boxing Day, we went out to dinner with a smaller delegation. Actually, Christmas always lasts a day longer for us and we cook again for a larger group with friends. Delicious Italian, because after all the Christmas food, I really crave that.'

Of course, I was already sobbing at minute 1 during All You Need Is Love. Did you secretly do that backstage too?

‘Wonderful. Because I got to sing at All You Need Is Love, I couldn't sit in the audience during the recording and for the first time on December 24th, I saw everything on TV and I cried a lot, yes. Together with the rest of the family by the way, despite the fact that they had already seen it.’

And this week? Were you able to relax a bit or did you have to work hard again?

‘It was a busy but very fun week! December is always a busy month anyway, but with the single with Jim, it's a bit extra. I performed a lot with the highlight being our performance at All You Need, so fun to do! I am also in the final stages of writing the songs for the EP that I will release next year, so I had a lot to finish. I also gave a little concert this week together with my sister Suus and my band in the most beautiful theater in the Netherlands, on Vlieland. Played new songs for the first time for an audience and sang together with Suus, wonderful. Afterwards, we celebrated with the whole band that the concert went very well and then enjoyed an extra day off on my favorite Wadden island. Many friends were here too, so we went for a walk and relaxed with delicious food again.’

Can you tell me how you think you'll feel on January 1st? Hungover or fresh and fruity? How did you celebrate actually?

‘I actually hardly drink, but I am always a bit hungover on January 1st. But in a very nice way. I love days when it's normal to do nothing because only then do I really do nothing! Or just what I like to do on a free Sunday. I celebrated it with a lot of family and friends and we always go through the year together, I always find that a nice moment for that!’

And, do you have any New Year's resolutions?

‘I want to try to spend a little less time on my phone. It becomes a kind of addiction and I don't find it normal anymore that I have to WhatsApp with others while I'm talking to people. It stresses me out and I will do this less!’

What kind of music is played on the weekend?

‘Everything. My boyfriend also plays piano and guitar. He starts playing and then puts on all kinds of music and it goes in all directions. We almost always have music on or we are making music ourselves, very tiring ;-). Aerosmith always comes back, his favorite band, I am a bit less of a fan of that. My own taste is also very diverse; Maria Mena, Paolo Nutini, Mumford & Sons, Coldplay and I could go on for a while.’

What does your ideal Sunday look like? Anything goes.

‘Usually Sunday is my only real weekend day and I love to get up on time, walk through the Jordaan and brunch with my boyfriend. And squeeze in some exercise in between. Often we also like to sit somewhere with a newspaper and more friends join us. Not being concerned about what time it is, but doing what you feel like. I also really enjoy sitting by the fireplace with my family with many friends and family and cooking together.’

And for a weekend away, where do you prefer to go? Which hotel? And where do you eat?

‘Then I choose Rome. My mother is half Italian and I always feel extra Italian here. We eat the best pasta vongole at ‘Osteria da Fortunato’ for which I even started eating fish again after 20 years. A bit of walking around the city and enjoying all the beauty and the lovely Italians. This always makes me very happy. I once made an Italian friend on the plane from Sicily to Rome, we still keep in touch via Facebook and he occasionally sends me some trendy places where the Romans also go, very nice.’

And, just for me. Jim. Tell me, how was it?

‘Haha. Jim and I have actually been good friends for 10 years and we have a very similar taste in music. I always love singing with him, that's why we found it extra fun to actually release something together and also write together! Jim is, besides being incredibly handsome and a very good singer, really a very sweet and fun person. We can also laugh a lot together, so that was definitely the case this time. Very cozy to perform together for our single. This is definitely not the last thing we do together.’