This week viewers saw him eliminated from the competition after the home visits to New York.

James performed in front of JLo and said it was an amazing experience.

However, in reality all that took place three months ago.

"It has been a weird experience not being able to talk about it," James admitted to the Chronicle last Friday.

"You are the first I've been able to open up to which is really nice," he said.

At 22 James now has two reality TV shows under his belt and his most recent experience on X Factor achieved exactly what he hoped it would.

"It got people talking about me again," he said.

It also gained him more than three thousand extra likers and followers on Facebook.

"I never went into the competition for it to be my everything," he said.

"I haven't been down about it."

For James it has always been about the music.

Music is what he does best and he makes his living with it and pays his rent.

In fact James admits he struggled with the decision to go on X Factor in the first place.

After appearing on Australian Idol at the tender age of 17 he said he was well aware that working in the music industry has its ups and downs.

"I've had total control over my music for the past five years," James said.

"I love that."

Scoring a win on X Factor would have seen James signed to a record deal, something that doesn't always offer creative freedom to an artist.

"I want to be able to release the music that is totally me," he said.

He's been performing since he was a small child and James readily admits he still loves playing and writing music.

For James Johnston the music is his everything.

"I never wanted to lose that," he said.

The radio release of James' new single will be September 5 although James said he is likely to release it earlier to his online fans.

After our interview James rang me back, he didn't feel he had conveyed well enough just how much his home town means to him.

"Thank you to the people of Wingham," he said

"Your support has been incredible."

James might be based in Brisbane these days but he still considers Wingham home.