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.

It's been one of many changes made on her wellness journey. “I think my lifestyle as a whole took its toll on my wellbeing. Ironically, that wasn’t really in my 20s as much as it was in my 30s, after I had kids. I was determined to crack on and be busier than ever.

“There was a period between 38 and 40ish, [when] I was just spent - really, really tired and really burnt out.

“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.