The Cork native appeared on the latest episode of the web series Track Star, which dropped on March 27, where host Jack Coyne stopped him mid-stroll in NYC for a quick-fire game of "Guess That Tune."
Keeping things close to home, Coyne quizzed Murphy on a lineup of Irish icons like Van Morrison and Thin Lizzy, alongside newer acts such as Fontaines D.C.
Murphy didn’t miss a beat, correctly naming every track while casually dropping stories and insights that had viewers hooked.
"This guy is just effortlessly cool," one fan wrote in the YouTube comments, echoing a wave of praise for the Irish actor’s laid-back charm.
Before the quiz kicked off, Coyne pointed out Murphy’s well-known love of music, referencing his "sneaky little radio show."
Murphy played it down with a modest, "Sometimes, yes," before diving straight into the challenge.
He opened strong by identifying "Rock & Roll" by The Velvet Underground, calling it ‘one of the great rock ’n’ roll tracks of all time’, even joking about feeling pressure from his kids.
Next up was "Sweet Thing" by Van Morrison, which Murphy said perfectly captures Ireland.
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He described the album "Astral Weeks" as something that could "distill Ireland" into a single record, adding it’s "one of my favourite albums of all time."
The actor also breezed through "What’s Happening Brother" by Marvin Gaye, noting how the track still sounds "so fresh," before eventually clocking "A Hero’s Death" by Fontaines D.C. after a brief pause.
Murphy revealed he has had some input in the music featured in Peaky Blinders, particularly its upcoming project The Immortal Man, explaining: "I get involved, yeah."
The chat also touched on his famously intense on-screen persona, especially as Tommy Shelby. Laughing it off, Murphy said: "He’s extremely intimidating and extremely powerful, which I am not in any way," adding that his approach to acting is about creating fully rounded characters without judgement.
One of the more personal moments came when Coyne played "Son Of Mr. Green Genes" by Frank Zappa, a track Murphy instantly recognised, having once played in a band of the same name as a teenager.
He praised Zappa as someone who "never played the game" and was "the real deal."
The final Irish nod came with "Romeo And The Lonely Girl" by Thin Lizzy, with Murphy paying tribute to frontman Phil Lynott, calling him "an icon" in Ireland.
When asked what he’s currently listening to, Murphy kept it local, shouting out Irish acts like Cardinals, Lankum and Lisa O’Neill.
He said there’s been an "explosion" of "great, great music" coming out of Ireland, adding: "It’s lovely when you can listen to music that’s made at home and is world class."
The interview has since gone down a storm online, with fans praising not just Murphy’s music knowledge but how relaxed he seemed, a contrast to his often low-energy press appearances.
"Perhaps the happiest I’ve ever seen the lad," one viewer commented, while another wrote: "I’ve NEVER seen him so animated… music is clearly what gets him to relax and be himself."
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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