PNAU frontman Nick Littlemore opens up about hanging with his mentor Elton John, taking DMT and talking to God

Even if you briefly talk with dance trio PNAU’s frontman Nick Littlemore, it’s quite apparent he has a bundle of creative energy inside him that’s aching to get out. He exudes a laid-back, bohemian demeanor, but can quickly work himself up into bursts of chatter, jumping between tangents while emitting grandiose physical gestures -- which he worries weirds out his neighbors who can see into his window.

But the 40-year-old Australia native is widely known for expressing his artistic passion through his musical groups (which include PNAU, flamboyant alt-pop sensation Empire of the Sun and several other side projects) and their vivid theatrical performances that have become revered for their whimsical, dreamlike presentation.

Even before Empire of the Sun exploded behind 2008 hit single Walking On A Dream, Littlemore had attracted a devoted fan in Sir Elton John for his work with PNAU. The legendary crooner declared PNAU’s 2007 self-titled album to be the greatest record he’d heard in 10 years, and signed them to his label.

“He’s been in my life ever since. It’s been bizarre and surreal and amazing,” Littlemore told AOL ahead of PNAU’s performance at CRSSD music festival in San Diego on September 29. “I try to put his positivity into our music, this renaissance of psychedelics.”

Spurred by roughly 40 doses of the hallucinogenic drug DMT over the past two years, the former Cirque Du Soleil show composer has undergone a psychedelic awakening that’s given an extra shot of lucid visuality to his already vibrant music.

“Every time I go deep in the multi-dimensional plane, I come back with something,” Littlemore said. “I get a greater awareness of plants and things, or an interest in going through the different religions and buildings I otherwise wouldn’t have noticed.”

Another apparent side effect of DMT? Meeting your maker.

Littlemore matter-of-factly mentions that he’s had a conversation with God in his backyard – and confirms Ariana Grande’s claim that God is a woman.

“We had a chat for 3 to 4 hours. She’s lovely, completely down to earth,” Littlemore said pleasantly. “The Native Americans believe the earth is a woman and the mother, and the father is the sky. I haven’t met the sky – I’ve always been more attracted to female energy. It feels protective, open, loving and understanding -- more complex and interesting.”

Littlemore seems like he's accumulated a ton of frequent flyer points from visits to unknown cosmic universes, but he hasn’t performed in the U.S. since 2002 despite the massive success Empire of the Sun has found stateside (Empire’s other co-founder plays live shows without Littlemore). But PNAU’s newest album Changa -- named after a DMT-infused smoking blend, naturally -- has opened doors in America for the group and their bouncy, blissful sound.

Debuting at a dance-focused festival like CRSSD seems like an ideal situation for PNAU. And who knows? Maybe Sir Elton will make an appearance.

“When I was over at Elton’s house a little while ago, he was banging techno,” Littlemore said with a laugh. “You think he’d be listening to something from the ‘70s, but he’s listening to the most current underground mixes.”

It just goes to show that you’re never too old to dance.

“That’s why we make dance music,” Littlemore said. “In the dark, anyone can dance.”