The 5-minute Interview: Calvin Harris, Singer/songwriter

'I'd probably be chucked out of my own party for being a dictator'

Calvin Harris, 23, released his first album'I Created Disco' after gaining a popular following on the social networking site MySpace. He is currently touring the UK as part of the Beck's Fusions series and this Saturday he will perform a special gig alongside Boy Kill Boy and the Mitchell Brothers at Camden's Koko. All proceeds will go to CALM, a group that provides help for young men at risk of suffering depression. For more details, see www.wastedyouthlive.co.uk

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

Sitting at my computer agonising over bass drum sounds.

A phrase I use far too often is...

"I can't stress that enough".

I wish people would take more notice of...

Holes in the roads. It's a huge issue where I live, they can damage your car and the wildlife.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

Reaching the height of 6ft 5in; I never expected to be that tall. I just shot up.

I am not a politician but...

I'd rule with an iron fist, no nonsense! I'd probably be chucked out by my party for being a dictator.

I'm good at...

The trouble with making music as a job is that I have no outside interests. All I can do to wind down is go to sleep. Before, music was my hobby, now there's no other way.

I'm very bad at...

I'm very, very bad at dancing; I just have no idea what to do. When I've had enough to drink, then I can dance.

The ideal night out is...

An incredibly quiet meal out with my girlfriend, maybe go to a trouble-free gig and then home.

In moments of weakness I...

When I'm a bit sad I often go for a drive in the country, quite fast, with my music up. Where I live, it's a small town surrounded by countryside so after 10 minutes you're properly out there and it's very scenic.

You know me as a musician but in another life I'd have been...

A policeman. Since I was 14 I wanted to make music, but I think I would also have made a good policeman. When I was eight, I wanted to be one so I could tell people off.

The best age to be is...

Twenty-six. It's going to be a tremendous year. It's the right stage between childhood and being an adult – still young, a bit more sensible.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:

I just muddle on, really.

David Maunders