Who the hell is?

Mika

First waltz:It's Friday night on Jools Holland,and old faithfuls such as Christy Moore and Yusuf Islam are rubbingshoulders with young pretenders such as Razorlight. Also on thebill that night is a dark, long-haired chap named Mika, whosedexterous piano playing, skittering, high-octave vocals, andshowtune songwriting style make him sound like a strange hybrid ofRufus Wainwright, Randy Newman and Tiny Tim. This was the debut TVappearance of the 23-year-old singer/songwriter/producer. He's on amission to put the fabulous back into pop and can be counted on toturn a dowdy tune into something swish, sparkly and dripping withdiamante. Mika made his first stage appearance in a Richard Straussopera at the age of 11, performing on a set designed by DavidHockney, and fell in love with the glam and glitz of the stage. "Itwas a magical world that you could live in" he recalls. "A paralleluniverse for people that is illusory and enchanting and amazing."Since then, Mika has followed his own shining vision, inspired bysuch singular stars as Elton John, Prince, Nilsson and MichaelJackson.

Sign of the times:It wasn't all diamonds andpearls when Mika was growing up in war-torn Beirut. Survival wasforemost in the minds of Mika's family. When they fled the country,his dad ended up a hostage in Kuwait. The family eventually settledin London, but Mika always felt an outsider in school. He foundsolace in the music of Dylan, Joan Baez and Serge Gainsbourg,taught himself the piano and, with the help of a tough Russiansinging teacher, perfected the vocal gymnastics that allow him toleap across four octaves. His mother found him work singing withthe Royal Opera House and doing a recorded telephone voice forBritish Airways, but was unfortunately unwise in the ways ofcommerce. "Looking back on it, I think 45 quid for the Orbitchewing gum jingle could have been a little too cheap," saysMika.

Wizard of odd:When he was 19, Mika enrolled in theRoyal College of Music and began writing songs and performing themat parties. He signed a development deal with a major label but,when it tried to turn him into the new Craig David, he retaliatedby writing his flamboyant signature tune, Grace Kelly. Enlistingsister Yasmine to help him with his colourful artwork and blaggingrecording time wherever he could, Mika followed his own yellowbrick road to stardom.

Looney tunes:Mika’s debut album, Life in CartoonMotion, is out now, and features songs that move with all the zingand zaniness of a Pink Panther showreel. Songs include the joyousLove Today, the gaily abandoned Billy Brown and the reassuring BigGirl (You Are Beautiful). But the stage is where Mika feels most athome, and he can’t wait to get out and perform his songs live.”It’s where it all comes together for me.”