Three years ago you were playing tunes in your bedroom and now you're a superstar DJ - how does it feel?
It's crazy, it's pretty mental. I remember getting on the bus to work and listening to my mix tapes that I'd borrowed from the record shop I was working in and thinking, I want to be doing this - I want to be making these tapes and entertaining people.

The last three years have been like a whirlwind, it's just snowballed completely out of control. Now, I spend most of my life sat on a plane or at an airport, but it's all good and I'd never change it.

James with his Dalek Ja Rule

Do you have a world ranking?
Yeah, they do this DJ mag poll every year where the readers vote for their favourite DJ on the website and in the magazine - last year I came in at number 11 which is pretty mental.

You made your We Love... Homelands debut last year in Arena 1 - how was it?
It was awesome but it was quite sunny outside at the time so I wanted to be outside! This year I'm playing last in Arena 1, I'm on at 4am so it's going to be a bit different.

The great thing is because it's Winchester it's just down the road from where I live, where all my friends and family are. Last year my mum and dad and nan went, but I don't think they'll be out raving at 4am this year, my dad probably will but I don't think my nan will, it's a bit past her bedtime!

Have you got your set planned out yet?
No, I'm kind of in the middle of all that at the moment. I'm just sorting out all the music and some little cheeky DJ edits and remixes. Because I play out so much I could probably just go there and play and it'd be fine, but because it's such a big event I'll prepare myself a bit more. If it was a regular club night I'd improvise but I'm making some remixes and things especially for it.

What's your DJing forte?
I like to do lots of live editing and effects.

James

Have you got any other hidden talents?
I like to make a mess but that's not really a talent! I play X-Box but I've just cancelled my subscription because I was spending too much time on it and wasn't getting anything done. I used to be a designer but it wasn't cutting edge design it was more cheesy flyers for New Yorks but I do still have a passion for it.

What's been a highlight for you this year?
Probably working on the CD for Renaissance. And I've had a couple of really amazing gigs in Texas and in a place called Windsor in Canada which is a small town in the middle of nowhere, it's not really a New York or a London, it's really off the beaten track but it was unbelievable, that was a couple of weeks ago. I get really great gigs all the time so it's hard to say what's a highlight.

What's a typical week like for you ...is it all private jets and caviar?
No I still fly economy! Generally, Monday's recovering from the weekend so it's jetlag day depending on where I've been. If I've been to somewhere like Singapore, obviously I'll be wiped out. I also like to just sit at home and watch Doctor Who DVDs in between sorting out my music and watching EastEnders, I'm a massive EastEnders and Doctor Who fan!

James with Daleks Del Boy and JA Rule

What's the most extravagant thing you've treated yourself to?
I think I'd be lying if I didn't say my Daleks, they weren't cheap but I just had to have them! I don't have a car so they get parked in our space. But on second thoughts maybe a car would have been more useful. The blue one's called Del Boy and the black one's called JA Rule.

How do you keep your record box well stocked when your flitting all over the place?
The internet. I can go record shopping from my hotel room. Without the internet I'd be a bit screwed. It's great that I can get so much work done in hotel rooms as long as I've got the internet

What act/DJ will you make sure you see at the festival?
I'd like to see Jazzy Jeff, because he's an excellent DJ and he invented the transformer scratch years ago and The Cuban Brothers because they're insane. Last year they interviewed me and my granny for MTV, she thought they were great!

I'm not going to really have time though because I'm playing in Birmingham the night before and then the day after we've got this High Tide Boat party which happens every year after Homelands.

Have you got a nickname?
No, but people call me Chesney Hawkes sometimes and Jay Zee, but Chesney Hawkes is the one I get the most. I suppose it could be worse but not that much worse!

You can listen live to We Love...Homelands on Radio One and we'll have reviews, interviews and pictures here on BBC Southampton.