Hi Chipmunk. You’ve had so much success with your debut album. Did you always want to be a pop star?

Nope, I wanted to be a footballer! I was proper good too. Like QPR good, maybe Arsenal good. I took it quite seriously but then I got quite lazy.

When did you decide you were into music?

When I was 14. Just living where I was living, everyone was doing it. I discovered that I had a talent for it when I was about 16.

What were you like when you were at school?

I was confident and I was very popular. I was never bullied or anything like that. I didn’t bully anyone either, I was a cool guy. I was everyone’s friend. Drama and maths were my best subjects really. I didn’t like science – it was long.

But now you’re a star. How has your life changed in the last couple of years?

Well, totally! Now I’m making music and selling it. With that comes everything else, the award shows, red carpets, the glitz and glam, everything. It’s very exciting. You know, I’m just really grateful, by the grace of God to be in the position I’m in. I wouldn’t change anything, not even the bad stuff. 

What are the bad things?

Well, for every 1,000 people who like you there are going to be some who don’t, so you just have to take it with a pinch of salt and not take it too personally if someone doesn’t like you.

You’ve said there’s lots of glitz and glamour, have you met any celebrities then?

Yes, I’ve met a lot of people really. All
the usual people you’d imagine: Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, the Arsenal boys, other pop stars. Cheryl Cole is probably my favourite. When I see her about we always say hello and she says she likes my songs. We were coming back on a plane from Germany together and we had a really good chat. She’s a really nice lady. And she’s beautiful.

Do you get a lot of attention from fans?

Yes,  I’ve been mobbed countless times. I can’t really do too much shopping or going out for a meal or stuff like that because you get a bit of harassment. It’s always flattering to know people like you, but sometimes it’s a bit much. When you’re not expecting it or when you forget yourself that people know you, that’s when it gets a bit weird.

Have any fans ever scared you?

I had a scary fan on tour, who ended up outside every single one of my hotels for the first five dates. So then I had to say to him: “Trust me, you’re invading my privacy, so don’t let me see you again at my next hotel,” and then I never saw him again. He was cool to start with and I gave him some time and I signed stuff for him and that.

You’re releasing a new version of your album. What’s different?

The repack has some extra tracks on it. It’s called I Am Chipmunk – Platinum Edition. My favourite new  track is Superstar. It just gets everything off my chest. You’ll have to listen to it. It also has the new single Until You Were Gone which has Esmee Denters on it. That was cool to record, she’s a lovely girl.

How did you end up working together?

Via Twitter. I tweeted that I liked her voice, and she tweeted me saying thank you. She was in London, so I brought my laptop along to meet her and played it to her and she loved it, her manager loved it, so we recorded it and, you know, now it’s a single.

Is it true that you were in Hollyoaks recently?

Yes, it was cool. I was just performing. I didn’t get any lines but I would quite like to.

Why not? I can act. It’s definitely something I’d like to do in the future. I’d like to do films or TV. Both would be cool.

Finally, what can we expect from your tour this summer?

On my tour I want everyone to have fun. To come and feel like you’re part of a great performance. I’m not nervous, I never get nervous but I am excited. There won’t be any costumes. I’m not really a costume guy. For me it’s more about the music side of things rather than what you were wearing or what was happening behind you. You’ve got to be the one selling your show. It will be fun though!