Being strong changes your everyday...

Annie Mac chats to LAUREN TAYLOR about sober DJing, weight training and her life since leaving Radio 1

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FEW people are as synonymous with dance music as Annie Mac.

The Irish DJ spent 17 years at BBC Radio 1 and this week returns to perform two sets at Glastonbury Festival.

But that doesn’t mean she’s immune to insecurity during big gigs. “You go through so much in your head when you DJ,” says the 46-year-old. “Depending on your state of mind, you can really go through different journeys in there - self doubt, self flagellation, a sense of overthinking everything. And just being very aware of your own thoughts because you're alone in your head surrounded by thousands of people.”

Back when the Dublin-born artist - real name Annie Macmanus - started on the scene, the DJ landscape was very different. “DJing has changed quite dramatically since the Noughties, when superstar DJs suddenly became rock stars,” says the mum-of-two, who is married to fellow DJ Toddla T.

“I always struggled, and still struggle sometimes, with that aspect of being the centre of attention for thousands of people when, essentially, I'm just on the decks.”

In her mid-30s, Annie stopped drinking when DJing and it's had a profound effect.

“You really hear your own thoughts very loudly,” she says.

“I was more of a performer when I drank - I would throw myself into the crowd regularly, I loved to crowd surf. I would get on the microphone more. Whereas now, I really try to let the music do the talking as much as possible. I still get on the mic now and again, [but] I do feel like my sets are better now. They're more considered.”