8 DJs tell us how they stay sane on tour - - Mixmag

8 DJs tell us how they stay sane on tour

Skream, Heidi and more on keeping a positive mindset

  • Words: Dave Turner | Illustration: Eliot Wyatt
  • 18 November 2016
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3 Heidi

"My routine depends on where I'm going and what country I'm in. Obviously, when I go to the United States, it's a little bit different because I've got a lot of friends there to catch up with. That's quite nice as there's always something to do and obviously speaking the same language always helps. Plus, I can visit my family in Canada. When I go to South America or Asia, it can be quite difficult because I've never had a tour manager. I've always been flying solo for the last 12 years. Basically, I really like travelling on my own as it's quite therapeutic and I get some downtime.

I've sort of got into podcasts because voices help me to relax and I listen to a lot of 'This American Life'. Also Alec Baldwin's podcast 'Here's The Thing'. His voice is so soothing. David Attenborough as well. He's definitely a Xanax for me. His voice just calms me down and sends me to sleep all the time. It's nice to listen to other people talk for a change because when I land I usually have to be on form all of the time and talk to the driver, the promoter and the fans and making sure they feel comfortable around me.

In the last year-and-a-half I've definitely knocked the drinking on the head. Not totally but I have to pick and choose my battles nowadays. I've definitely hit a few walls in the past where I've overdone it and felt like I was losing my mind in different time zones. I've started drinking champagne as it doesn't get me super wasted and I can gauge how much I'm drinking. Good tequila and water doesn't give you much of a hangover, either. I like to swim if there's a pool at the hotel, but other than that, not much exercise. I just sit and power-watch TV series. The Night Manager was a recent one."

 
 
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