JAGUAR Skills enjoys the best of both worlds.

A sought-after DJ lauded for his eclectic, cut-n-paste style who — thanks to his mask-wearing persona — also leads a 'normal' life.

His real name, age and hometown are known to few, adding an air of mystery to the DJ who will entertain thousands of festival-goers at Parklife, Heaton Park, on June 6 and 7.

Jaguar was living and working in Spain when his skills on the decks caught the interest of producers at Radio 1.

When he arrived for gigs, he was expected to wear a mask like the comic book ninja character he had been drawing for many years and which had become his symbol.

Hip hop fan Jag, as he is known, said: "They built me up as a mysterious dude.

"I was living in Spain and when I came to the gigs in England they said, 'have you got your mask?' and I said, 'What are you talking about?'

"I thought — once, I will do this once — and then I got kind of into it, this is pretty fun doing this.

"It's quite funny wearing a mask, it changes your character.

"In a strange way, you end up doing stuff you wouldn't usually do.

"You will feel the difference and people look at you differently.

"It's got to a point now, 10 years with a mask, I wouldn't be able to DJ without it — absolutely no way.

"I did a party for a friend and couldn't look at anyone. I was looking down."

Although unintentional, the mask-wearing turned out to have an added bonus for Jag who does not have to worry about people constantly taking photographs or who his real friends are.

He said: "I've got a friend who is pretty famous and I went to dinner with him.

"This person just comes up and sits at the table and just looks at him and says 'carry on talking'.

"This person is just leaning over the table. I said to my friend, 'you must get it all the time'.

"I cannot imagine what it is like if people know what you look like.

"Just on a general basis, day to day. I'm so glad."

When he is not DJ-ing at nightclubs and festivals across the country and globe, Jag is happy at home being father to his four-year-old son.

He said: "I work usually Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday so most of the week I'm at home with my son.

"It's really nice to kind of come back to nice reality."

With a father who was a DJ, Jag grew up surrounded by records and has spent more than 15 years honing his craft and love of music.

He first gained recognition by producing a mixtape CD for fashion label Maharishi and later caught the ears of fashionista Jade Jagger, who invited him to become a resident at her world famous Jezebel parties, playing gigs from Ibiza to Russia and Hong Kong.

It was while resident at Pacha in Ibiza that he got his break which would lead him to the studios of Radio 1.

He said: "Zane Lowe came up to me, I didn't know who he was because I was living in Spain."

Award-winning DJ Zane, well known for championing emerging talent and who recently left the station after a decade, asked him to send a mix.

Jag was then contacted by a producer who wanted one for the radio, leading him to land a regular slot and release work such as 1979-2006: A Hip-Hop Odyssey — 800 Tracks In 45 Minutes.

After just one month online, the monstrous mix had been downloaded more than one million times.

When not at gigs, Jag is busy working in his top secret Ninja studio, producing a constant stream of mixes with highlights including the History of DnB and the History of Ayia Napa.

Jag said: "You get the opportunity and you have to really attack things full throttle."

Parklife is on Heaton Park on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7 with acts including Jaguar Skills, Rudimental, Disclosure, Wu-Tang Clan, George Ezra, Fatboy Slim, Grace Jones, Mark Ronson and Ben Howard.

Visit parklife.uk.com.