Charlie Winston, 30, spent ten years on the London gig circuit and writing music for productions at the Almeida theatre and Sadler's Wells before signing to Peter Gabriel's label Real World Records. His album Hobo was released in France in January and spent four weeks at No 1, selling over 200,000 copies. Not to sound arrogant, but from a very early age I knew I would become famous,' he says.

Have you always been musical?
My parents were folk singers and my brother Tom is a singer. When I was eight I learned to play drums, at ten I learned piano and when I was 12, guitar and bass.

In your shows you beatbox, bodypop and play unusual instruments. Are you an exhibitionist?
I've been going to gigs for 15 years and grew tired of bands doing nothing but playing music. I grew up loving the Three Stooges and Charlie Chaplin, cabaret and musicals. I love to be entertained and I want to give my audience their money's worth.

Why do the French love you so much?
I'm a bit older and the French like that: mature cheese, mature wine and mature music.

Is there pressure to succeed on home ground?
I think there are two versions of success'. The first is the common concept of selling records and the second is about waking up and being happy. I want to have a happy life and not worry about record sales.

Are you a hobo?
I wrote a song called Like a Hobo' about five years ago. I like the non-materialistic mindset. When it came to naming the album, it seemed perfect.

What are your plans now?
I'm hoping to act. I just had a meeting with Woody Allen's publicist and so lots of little things have started happening. And I want to make more records and keep writing music. And I'd like to fall in love again.

Charlie's first single Like a Hobo' is out on Monday; the album Hobo is released on 28 September