Mark Levy has retold the time he was shocked to learn how rising star James Johnston was touring Australia for a few years.

Johnston was explaining how he came to release his first original song when one detail stuck out to Mark.

James Johnston: “I went and did the Australian Idol thing and X Factor and then I kind of lived out on the road for a few years, I guess calling it ‘cutting my teeth’, just playing as many gigs as I can.”

Mark Levy: “It’s funny you mention travelling around Australia in that van…”

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Mark decided to throw a challenge to James.

“I want you to do a Christmas song for us- can you do that?

“Because I’ll tell you folks, James, you throw a song at him and he’ll sing it!

“You can get him to play Elvis Presley, you can get him to play Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, you name it and he’ll absolutely nail it!”

Press PLAY below to watch James take on the challenge