In his homeland he's a bona fide star, with debut song Sleepless getting him known in 2011, then surging and soulful follow up single Holdin' On was a crossover hit, and his self-titled debut album released late last year charted at No 2 (only beaten by One Direction's second album Take Me Home).
"That really surprised me," he laughs. "Because the majority of the album is instrumental so it's a completely different beast from One Direction."
His music isn't pop music by a far stretch. It's quite strange in fact, and has the power to warp your mind at times. Yet it has a broad appeal that means it can compete against the likes of One Direction.
"What clicks with people is, first of all, it has those catchy melodies, just like a pop record, or a One Direction record. It's just that my music is a bit different and I put a lot of time into finding the right sounds," he says pointedly.
"I also think the kids, they were getting a bit bored with the same old shit, maybe? They wanted something new and with guys like Disclosure and myself, to be part of that new movement of producers coming through is awesome."
Not bad for a guy who started making electronic music as a 13-year-old with a basic production CD that came as a free giveaway in a box of cereal.
"I just find electronic music and the sound of it more intriguing. Because I've always had guitars around, which is like bread and butter, but I was always really fascinated by electronic music and how many different sounds you can make on a synthesiser."
These days he has a much more refined approach, and thinks deeply about the specifics of the sounds he is after, such as getting the right kick drum or choosing unique chords.
"And then it just works together to create something quite different and I think that's the strength of the music, that all the textures and sounds are a mystery, you know, 'What is that sound?'. They're not your stock standard sounds."
But it's all held together by his strong pop sensibility, and Flume, like Disclosure, also has a soulfulness to his music that makes it more real and tangible than a lot of other producer-driven music out there.
"My parents always played a lot of Van Morrison," he offers. "And I've always enjoyed the emotional trigger that music has with euphoric chord progressions, and I also used to listen to a lot of trance music too."
The turning point for Streten came two years ago when record label Future Classic took a fancy to some of his tracks, including Sleepless, and signed the youngster.
"I think the music did most of the work but Future Classic just had the resources, they knew the right people and the music just got propelled from there. And they know what they're doing and they've clued me up on a whole lot of stuff," he says.
His dad, Glen, is also heavily involved in his son's career taking care of the financial and logistical side of Flume's mini business empire. "It's been cool, it's been like a little partnership," he says.
As well as working on new music and touring he's also diversifying, working with a company - "I probably can't say too much about it yet" - doing visuals and audio work.
So at this stage it's his song On Top, with the line "All I want in this life is a chance to do my own thing", which pretty much sums him up. Though he says he's not an ambitious go getter, and just wants to make a living out of what he loves.
"Once I'm making a comfortable living, then I'll be happy."
Music profile
Who: Flume
What: 21-year-old Australian electronic music whiz Harley Streten
Where & when: Logan Campbell Centre, Auckland, tonight. Wellington Racing Club, Saturday
Listen to: Flume (2012)
