Mac DeMarco Trades Guitars for Plumbing: Inside His Obsession with Wells and Water Systems

Based on the article “Mac DeMarco is a plumber now: ‘I like fixing things, I like being alive’” by Solomon Pace-McCarrick, published August 22, 2025 on Dazed Digital.

When you think of Mac DeMarco, chances are you imagine lo-fi guitars, offbeat stage antics, and a kind of “slacker rock” charm that made him an indie favorite. But according to a recent feature in Dazed Digital, Mac’s latest obsession isn’t music at all — it’s plumbing.

From Indie Icon to Water Technician

DeMarco has stepped away from the “profit-driven” side of the music industry and leaned into a quieter, self-sufficient life in rural Canada. And what’s captured his imagination? Wells, filtration systems, and the art of making clean water flow.

In the interview, he jokes that he’s “become a plumber now,” and he isn’t exaggerating. Mac has installed a four-stage water treatment system at his home:

  • Filtering minerals: Groundwater often carries deposits like manganese, which not only stain sinks and clothing but, in high amounts, can cause health problems.
  • Softening with salt: His setup reduces water hardness, improving both taste and functionality.
  • UV light purification: A bacteria-killing step to keep the water safe to drink.
  • Fresh, clear results: The payoff is clean, drinkable water — and a deep sense of satisfaction.

“I like fixing things, I like being alive,” Mac told Dazed Digital, describing how energizing it feels to run his own miniature water plant.

Plumbing as a Philosophy

What makes this shift so interesting is how plumbing mirrors Mac’s stripped-down approach to music. Just as his new album Guitar focuses solely on him and his instrument — no extra production, no flashy synths — his plumbing project emphasizes simplicity, necessity, and authenticity.

Instead of outsourcing, he’s rolling up his sleeves and learning by doing. For Mac, plumbing isn’t just maintenance. It’s part of a larger lifestyle built around self-reliance, sustainability, and finding joy in the basics.

A Different Kind of Flow

There’s a poetic symmetry here. For years, Mac’s career has been defined by musical flow — drifting melodies, wandering lyrics, a laid-back groove. Now, in his mid-thirties, he’s just as fascinated by the literal flow of water through pipes, filters, and tanks.

And while his fans may be lining up to hear him sing, Mac DeMarco seems just as excited these days about keeping manganese out of his sinks.

👉 Read the full article on Dazed Digital.

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