Homelands

JAMES Zabiela is a nerd with a lust for chocolate and a soft spot for Leonardo - the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, not the painter!

"I've always been a nerd," he confesses. "All DJs are, it's part of the business."

Getting paid thousands of pounds to jet off around the globe and perform at some of the world's most glamorous and exclusive clubs is anything but nerdy, yet James says money isn't his real inspiration to perform - chocolate is.

"I think most DJs are overpaid," he says bluntly. "As long as I'm getting paid enough to get my chocolate essentials I'm happy. I'm hooked on the stuff. Easter is just the best time of the year," he grins.

The 24-year-old grew up in Woolston and still lives in the city today in the plush, cosmopolitan district of Ocean Village. At 19 he signed to DJ icon Sasha's agency label after impressing the dance giant with one of his demo recordings. Seven years earlier though James hated dance music. In fact it made about as much sense to him as a copy of Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time.

"My dad worked in Movement Records in Southampton. He was really into acid house. At its peak back in about 1992 when I was 12 I just remember hating it. I'd be upstairs when my dad was playing it playing with my Ninja Turtles. Leornardo was my favourite. "When I was 15 I went to the shop on work experience and after listening to the records constantly it just started to make sense. Once you go that far it becomes infectious."

Now James is one of the most successful underground dance DJs in British music spending large chunks of his time jetting around the world performing in front of thousands of adoring fans and living a life-style most of us could only ever dream of.

"After one-and-a-half years I had to get a new passport, it was that full," he laughs.

Tomorrow's set at Homelands will be James' fourth appearance at the Winchester-based festival and he can't wait.

"For me it's my favourite because my friends are only 20 minutes down the road and they can just pop along and support me," says James who will be performing in Arena 1 at the festival.

HOMELANDS LISTINGS

YOUR quick and easy access guide to this year's Homelands line up.

LIVE ARENA: Homelands biggest arena. It has been the stage for unforgettable performances from The Scissor Sisters, Faithless and The Music in previous years. It returns this year with a world class line up.

The Streets, Beck, Roots Manuva, Mylo, The Bravery, Audio Bullys, Babyshambles, Buck 65, Live Arena DJ - Jason Bye

ARENA 1: A cross-genre collection of the biggest and best names of in music.

John Digweed, Richie Hawtin, 2 Many DJs, Miss Kittin, Darren Emerson, Plump DJs, Danny Howells, James Zabiela, Hernan Cattaneo, Robbie Butler

ARENA 2: House music all day long and then house music all night long. It's all about the-four-to the-floor in this arena.

Dimitri From Paris, Layo and Bushwacka!, Felix da Housecat, Ben Watt, Joey Negro, Nic Fanculli, Tayo & Frank Tope (Rooty), Tania Vulcano, Jose de Divina, Paul Woolford, Loco Dice, Cliff Lay

ARENA 3: This is the fifth year Movement have represented at Homelands, only a club of this calibre could keep bringing line-ups like this to the table.

DJ Marky, Bryan Gee, Bukem, Andy C, Calibre, Dillinja & Lemon D, Fabio, Hype, Krust, Friction & Zinc, Die, Jumpin' Jack Frost, Pendulum, Artificial Intelligence, Ray Keith, Ruffstuff, Dynamite MC, Conrad, IC3, Moose. Stamina, Fats, Foxy, Darrison, Fun

ARENA 4: This arena's hip hop extravaganza proves Homelands commitment to building as broad a programme as possible.

Jazzy Jeff + Madd Skillz, Grandmaster Melle Mel + Scorpio (furious 5), Scratch Perverts, Kano, Kentaro (DMC World Champion), Skinny Man + DJ Flip (Mudfamily), Mitchell Brothers, Rodney P + Skitz (Hyperman set), Arena 4 Hosted By Shortee Blitz (Kiss FM)

ARENA 5: An A-list of revolutionaries and protagonists who bridge the gap between the underground and the mainstream.

The Human League (Live), Tiga, Tiefschwarz, Blackstrobe (Dex n Fx), Radio 4, Ewan Pearson, Dan Ghenacia, Damian Lazarus, Annie Mac, David Philips, The Youngsters (Live), Spektrum (Live), Performance (Live)

OUTDOOR STAGE: Like it says; it's a stage and it's outdoors.

Groove Armada (DJ set) feat. MC Mike and Patrick Dawes on percussion.

Plus a crucial mix of DJs, acts and performances to bring a little bit of carnival to our countryside!

STRONGBOW ROOMS: A selection of electro-punk-funk, kooky eclectic mixes and four-to-the-floor disco flavours.

David Guetta, Rob da Bank, DJ Coolof (The Knife - DJ Set), Kid Carpet, Justin Robertson, Caged Baby, Medicine 8, Hot Chip, Kris Bones

BACARDI B-BAR: As part of the Homelands festival experience, the Bacardi B-Bar will play host to a diverse range of world renowned DJs.

Bugz In The Attic, Giles Smith, Tortured Soul (Live), Loose Cannons, Eddie Temple Morris, Phil Asher, Benji B, A Skillz, Mark Hughes, BlackIIBasic Sound System For tickets to Homelands contact 0870 060 3775.