Music & Psychedelic Pairings
Written By: Madeline Ferguson
Summer concert season is upon us and whether you are someone who goes to multiple shows per year or just one, you know how magical live music can be. Recently I was at a concert and it got me thinking about just how impactful music has been in my life.
Music has been a constant, there during some of my darkest days and also an anchor into the best moments of life; there for the big things but also there to soothe the boredom that comes with life. I feel music physically in my body, and part of that I credit to experiencing music while on psychedelics.
This article is not meant to encourage you to go out and do psychedelics at a concert, that could be too much for a beginner. You can experience the power of music during any type of trip, whether you are alone, with friends or at a concert. This is meant to give you some ideas and suggestions of different types of music to try depending on your substance of choice and moods.
MDMA
It’s well known that MDMA, sometimes called Molly, is a popular drug in Rave culture with Electronic Dance Music (EDM) and there’s a good reason. The consistent and ever-present bass beats of EDM make dancing hypnotic and when you add MDMA, that consistent movement through your body can feel amazing.
If you’re trying MDMA and want to stick with EDM, I suggest listening to Odesza for something euphoric and beautiful, but still very danceable. For a different, more calm vibe, smooth jazz would be a great option if you’re wanting to just deeply listen.
Psilocybin/Magic Mushrooms
The obvious answer here is jam bands like Phish, and that’s an excellent option. The consistency and calmness of the music will likely sound and feel really amazing. Another jam band I suggest adding to that mix is Goose, they are fun and will get you dancing.
If you’re to stray away from the norm, Bluegrass is where you should go. Many bluegrass bands feature incredible singers and those voices paired with the lyrics and pace of bluegrass music will get your feelings and dancing to some songs.
LSD/Acid
Again there is a fairly obvious answer here, The Grateful Dead. They are an amazing band and really pioneered the psychedelics in the music space, so by all means, give them a try. But for another option, you should steer back into the EDM space.
There is so much variety in EDM music, you can go as chill as you want or as hard as you want if you start to dabble in dubstep. For an acid trip, I recommend trying out Big Wild (really happy music) or INZO. INZO features a lot of sound from popular meditation tracks and can create a real spiritual experience if that is what you are looking for.
Some Mood-Based Recommendations
If the purpose of your psychedelic trip is to find healing or look within, Jon Hopkins makes music solely for that purpose. It is gorgeous and the perfect pairing for anyone.
There are moments when a trip can feel totally overwhelming, in those moments, some music may also be overwhelming. In this case, opt for something with no lyrics that is claiming and slow, almost like spa music.
Happy travels and enjoy the tunes.
