Mac DeMarco on Anxiety, Alcoholism, and Sobriety

Mac DeMarco built a career on a laid-back, goofy persona that made him seem like the ultimate slacker, but in 2023 he peeled back that curtain to reveal a very different reality — one shaped by anxiety, alcoholism, and a hard-won sobriety. This article walks through what he’s said publicly, what’s still uncertain, and how his music has evolved alongside his personal life.

Born: April 30, 1990 (age 34) ·
Origin: Duncan, British Columbia, Canada ·
Genres: Indie rock, lo-fi, psychedelic pop ·
Years active: 2008–present ·
Labels: Captured Tracks, Royal Mountain

Five key biographical points, one pattern: Mac DeMarco’s public image has shifted from carefree slacker to someone actively managing his health and sobriety.

The implication: DeMarco’s early-career image of effortless cool masked a background of real health struggles.

What condition does Mac DeMarco have?

Anxiety and alcoholism

• Mac DeMarco has spoken openly about struggling with anxiety, though he hasn’t disclosed a specific clinical diagnosis beyond that (AP interview clip (primary source)).
• In 2023 he told the press he had been dealing with alcoholism and decided to stop drinking (Associated Press (wire service)).

What this means: Fans and critics now reinterpret his earlier “party guy” persona through the lens of untreated anxiety and alcohol dependence.

What happened to Mac DeMarco?

Recent health revelations

• He canceled tours due to health issues, though specific reasons were not detailed publicly.
• In a 2023 interview with the Associated Press, he described a broader lifestyle shift that included quitting nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol (AP interview clip (primary source)).
• He also mentioned incorporating acupuncture and dietary changes (AP interview clip (primary source)).

The catch: Because DeMarco hasn’t entered a formal rehab program publicly, the exact severity of his alcoholism remains known only to him.

Is Mac DeMarco sober now?

His journey to sobriety

• In a 2023 interview with the Associated Press, he said he had stopped drinking alcohol altogether (Associated Press (wire service)).
• He also quit nicotine cold turkey during a tour drive from New York to Salt Lake City and no longer drinks caffeine (AP interview clip (primary source)).
• He described his sobriety as being “free” rather than “straight” (AP interview clip (primary source)).

“I’d like to feel some kind of peace.”

— Mac DeMarco to Dazed (culture magazine), 2023

The pattern: DeMarco frames sobriety not as deprivation but as liberation — a key shift in his public narrative.

Does Mac DeMarco have a kid?

Family life

• Mac DeMarco has a daughter, born in 2021, with his girlfriend Kiera McNally (Associated Press (wire service)).
• The family resides in Far Rockaway, New York.

The trade-off: Parenthood and sobriety have reshaped DeMarco’s songwriting — the lullaby-like intimacy of One Wayne G tracks suggests a father’s perspective.

Who smoked 100 cigarettes a day?

The 100 cigarettes claim

• In a 2017 interview, Mac DeMarco claimed he smoked 100 cigarettes a day — a statement he later admitted was an exaggeration.
• By 2023, he said he had not used nicotine in a little over a year (AP interview clip (primary source)).

“Journey with sobriety or whatever.”

— Mac DeMarco to Associated Press (wire service), 2023

Why this matters: The shift from boasting about extreme smoking to quitting entirely mirrors his broader move away from performative excess.

Mac DeMarco opens up about anxiety, alcoholism and his Mitski collaboration

Key revelations from the interview

• In a 2023 interview with the Associated Press, DeMarco discussed his anxiety, alcoholism, and a creative partnership with Mitski (Associated Press (wire service)).
• He described his health journey and sobriety as central themes of his recent work (Dazed (culture magazine)).

The implication: The interview reframes DeMarco as a recovering artist who uses creative output to process personal change.

Timeline

• 1990 – Born April 30 in Duncan, British Columbia.
• 2012 – Released debut album Rock and Roll Night Club.
• 2014 – Breakthrough with Salad Days.
• 2017 – Claimed to smoke 100 cigarettes a day (later called exaggeration).
• 2021 – Daughter born to DeMarco and Kiera McNally.
• 2023 – Gave interviews about anxiety, alcoholism, and sobriety to AP and Dazed; released One Wayne G.

What this means: Each major life event — becoming a father, quitting substances, releasing a massive album — has pushed DeMarco further from his earlier slacker stereotype.

Quotes from Mac DeMarco

“I’d like to feel some kind of peace.”

— Mac DeMarco to Dazed (culture magazine)

“Journey with sobriety or whatever.”

— Mac DeMarco to Associated Press (wire service)

The takeaway: DeMarco’s own words reveal a man in transition — wanting peace, owning his journey, and refusing to treat sobriety as a finish line.

For fans who grew up with Salad Days, the 2023 revelations are a jarring but honest evolution. Mac DeMarco is no longer the 100-cigarette party trick — he’s a father, a recovering drinker, and an artist who chose freedom over substances. The music industry’s challenge: Let him grow up without nostalgia for the old persona.

Related reading

• Phil Rudd: What Happened, His AC/DC Status, and Now – Another musician’s health and career timeline.
• Joe Jonas: Divorce, Kids, and Custody Timeline – Personal upheaval in the life of a pop star.