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Normally we bring you podcasts from international DJs or producers, but this week we decided to go local with a superb podcast from our very own Nic James. Born in Germany, raised in England and then poached by Dublin, our loyalty to Nic is so strong that if he were to up decks and move to Papua New Guinea, we'd still come see him play every weekend.

For people who've never met or heard of you before, can you describe yourself in a couple of words?

I guess for the purposes of this interview, the couple of words I used would be party and DJ

If you had to market this mix, what would the blurb say?

I think my name and the tracklist should be marketing enough though I'd probably avoid putting my picture on it. Maybe a big 'Special Offer' sticker or something?

Ideally, in what situation would you like people to listen to this mix?

Well, it sort of goes up and then down in terms of tempo and energy so perhaps on your iPod on the way home from the club? It's kind of gangsta in places so it might be good for walking the streets late at night. I guess it's for loners who haven't got lucky and don't have the taxi fare home…

What was the main thought going through your head when you put it together?

Er, no thoughts really. I picked out most of the tunes before I did it and at the time I was trying to reflect the records that have been big when I've played out recently. I was aiming to make sure I fitted in the different sorts of music I play in a way that made sense.

Now it's done, are there any tracks you wish you'd put in, or is it perfect?

Not even close to perfect! I would make lots of changes, more reggae, less B’more, change the order of tunes, all sorts of stuff, but I usually just get to the 70 minute mark and say “that'll do pig”.

Is there a record or an artist that you can credit with the reason you began DJing?

The rap groups I listened to when I was eleven or twelve, like De La Soul, NWA, Salt n' Pepper and UK rappers like Derek B started my interest. I knew I was going to have to DJ as I couldn't MC. I was in a series of psychedelic and rap/metal bands at school and college and was slowly incorporating more and more computer and turntable elements into them until I formed a group with a friend where we made everything with samples. I couldn't see at the time how you could perform sample based instrumental music live so I learnt how to DJ as an outlet for this music we were making.

If you had to erase either Kraftwerk, the Beatles or Kool DJ Herc from the history books, who'd you pick and why?

That's a tricky one, I guess Kool DJ Herc, because he seemed to have some pretty tough times as a result of DJing, getting stabbed and stuff, although I suppose John Lennon got shot… OK. Lets say Kraftwerk. No real reason, I just don't think they would care if anyone had heard of them or not.

In 2008, we had Burial and Santogold – who do you think everyone will be talking about in 2009?

I'm terrible at these kind of predictions but my girlfriend likes Kid Cudi at the moment and she was on all that Santogold and Kid Sister stuff way before anyone else I know.

We're running a feature called Paddylonglegs where we turn someone with no skills into a DJ in about two and a half months. He's really struggling at the moment – any tips?

I guess if he's mixing some kind of club music then the advice I'd give would be to count - get all your 1234, 2234, 3234s right and everything should fall into place. Other than that I'd say don't become too obsessed with the mixing, worry about the tunes more. I'll give them a lesson if they want.

If your life was a song lyric, what would it be?

Unintelligible drum and bass MCing. You can't really make out exactly what's being said but it all adds to the excitement.

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