Jake Bugg, Leeds Festival main stage, August 24

Even before he released his self-titled debut album in October 2012, Nottingham singer-songwriter Jake Bugg had already made his Leeds Festival debut that summer on the Festival Republic Stage.

Returning to the Bramham Park event in 2013, having travelled the world on the back of a number one album, Jake moved further up the bill, drawing huge crowds. Now, with a second album, Shangri La, to his name, he makes another significant step up, playing second on the bill to Arctic Monkeys on Sunday's line-up.

What's On catches up with young master Bugg.

From your debut on the Leeds Festival Republic Stage in 2012 to the Main Stage two years later, you’ve grown up with Leeds in a way, haven’t you, Jake?

"Yeah, it’s been kind of crazy. When you’re young and you watch these massive bands play on television, you dream that one day you’ll be up on a main stage. But you don’t expect to actually be there."

Playing a festival must be a completely different experience to, say, playing a headline gig of your own on a tour.

"Totally, but it’s good, playing a festival is an opportunity to win over new fans too, and excite people who maybe wouldn’t come out especially to see me. That’s what’s really good about Leeds Festival, the chance to see different people really getting into your music. There’s always that fear about how many people are going to take time out of their festival to see you, of course, so when it all works, when there’s a really good atmosphere, then it’s really, really exciting. I’ve enjoyed the festivals this year; the weather’s been good and I think I’ve gone down well."

So, when the NME printed that story saying you hated festivals, that wasn’t true?

"Well, I personally dislike crowded areas and lots of mud! But actually playing festivals in front of loads of people, that’s what you dream of when you’re younger. I couldn’t wish for much more."

Is there anything particularly special about Leeds Festival, do you think?

"It’s got a bit of a younger audience, which for me is great. It’s a bit like I’m playing to my kind of people and it proves that there’s still a market out there for what I’m doing."

It’s rockier than some other indie festivals, isn’t it?

"Yes, I’ll have to ramp it up a bit! But then, I was up against Metallica at Glastonbury, so I know how to compete with rock. I would have loved to have seen them myself, actually. But yes, when you play Leeds, you just want to keep the momentum going, make people have a bit of a dance and a drink and enjoy themselves."

You played in a favela in Brazil this summer with the charity Action Aid, who you met through the Leeds and Reading Festival promoters. How was that?

"That was just another world. You hear about these places on television but actually seeing a favela... I thought things were tough where I came from but this was a whole different story. But the most amazing thing about it all was how nice the community was; how they stuck together and tried to help each other."

How did your music go down with them?

"I did a couple of festivals out there and it was great. I did a hip hop track with this band from the favela in Heliopolis; they rapped over Seen It All and everyone was cheering. Well, I hope they were; it was all in Portuguese. But it was pretty crazy."

You’re pretty good at football, apparently. Did you have a game with them too?

"We did actually. I scored four goals, which I was pretty happy about. I thought it might be a bit trickier than that."

Are you working on any new material?

Yes, I’m just in the writing phase at the minute. It’s all going well so far; I feel like I’m getting some good ideas. It feels a bit different to the last two albums already but it’s in such early stages it’s difficult to know how everything will turn out when it comes to actually recording the new material. It’s very early days."

Given that your life has changed pretty dramatically, how easy is it to find interesting things to write about?

"I know what you mean. Some artists find writing really difficult when they’re in the bubble of touring and promoting. But to be honest I’ve always been able to find time out of that to be creative. Writing is my escapism from the realities and stress of what I do. But things like that trip to the favela, what was fascinating for me was how different it was to my everyday experience, and yet at the same time people acted in ways which were so familiar. It takes time for little moments like that to sink in, but when I’m writing, I go back to them."

You recorded your second album, Shangri La, with American producer Rick Rubin. Do you think you’ll hook up with him again?

"I’m not sure. It all depends how the songs develop, really. When I’ve got that worked out, I’ll know what kind of album I want to make. But really, it’s worth trying stuff out with everyone. I’ve got a lot of time to do this next record, there’s not too much pressure, so I’m really enjoying myself as far as all that is concerned."

Now that you’ve had some time with Shangri-La, how do you feel about the record?

"I’m still really pleased with it. It’s always a nerve-wracking thing putting a record out, you always worry that people are going to say it’s not as good as the last one. But the point is that inevitably it will be different from the first record, and my next record will be different again. It’s all about evolving and improving. It got to number three in the charts and I’m pretty high-up the bill at Leeds. So it’s all good."

Jake Bugg plays Leeds Festival main stage on Sunday .

Jake Bugg visiting the Heliopolis favela in Brazil with ActionAid

The video for Jake Bugg's new single There’s A Beast And We All Feed It