Psychedelics and Music: Intertwined

In the realms of altered states of consciousness and mind-expanding experiences, few combinations hold as much potential for profound exploration as the fusion of music and psychedelics. When these two powerful forces intertwine, they create a synergy that has captivated and transformed countless individuals throughout history.

“Music is the best, and cheapest, mind-altering drug in the world.” - Kamand Kolouri

In this blog post, we embark on a journey to understand and appreciate the profound relationship between music and psychedelics.

Psychedelics enhance musicality

Until recently, only anecdotal evidence showed the positive impact of psychedelics on music. Today there is a resurgence of serious research showing the positive effects of psychedelics on our perception of sound.

LSD allows musicians to lose the inhibitions which prevent them creating evolved soundscapes and more innovative pieces2. Psychedelics act as an enabler of talent, pushing the limits of the brain.

"It started to find its way into everything we did, really. It colored our perceptions. I think we started to realize there wasn't as many frontiers as we'd thought there were. And we realized we could break barriers." - Paul McCartney

Musicians and bands have used psychedelics in making successful music since time immemorial. They include, The Beatles, John Coltrane, Harry Styles, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Chance the Rapper, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Pink Floyd, A$AP Rocky, and dozens more.

Music Boosts Psychedelic Therapy

There is overlap between the brain regions altered by psychedelics and those which respond to music. During LSD-assisted therapy, if music is heard, it increases the flow of information between the brain region specializing in personal memories (parahippocampus) and the region constructing mental images (visual cortex). This helps patients visualize past events and put them in context.

In trials, patients reported music produced feelings of safety and calm, and supported their psychological breakthroughs. Another study found that changing timbres of music evoke strong activity in regions involved in processing emotion, particularly with feelings of "wonder" and transcendence". This helps patients process events more deeply and reach a state where they feel they are progressing positively.`

​82% of patients said music intensified their emotions during their experience.	​89% of patients said the playlist order and selection made a difference in their psychedelic journey.
​73% of patients reported depicting music as a source of guidance during their psychedelic therapy session, out of which 73% felt it gave them “support”.	​Reductions in depression 1 week after psilocybin were significantly predicted by music experience variables (e.g. liking and resonance) but not by drug intensity.

Psychedelics Enhance Musicians' Mental Health

When combined with therapy, psychedelic compounds have proven incredibly medically effective in comparison to traditional treatment methods. These compounds have profound effects on the brain and our thought processes.

Psychedelics can affect serotonin and other brain chemicals, regulating mood, pain, and other emotions. The neuroplastic and neurogenerative properties of psychedelics also mean they can create neural connections in the brain to enhance or repair it physically.

Psychedelic experiences also promote deep insight in users, including an enhanced appreciation of spirituality, connectedness, and awareness. Psychedelic therapy has been both anecdotally, and also scientifically shown to enhance the perception of meaning.

Pressure & Depression

Musicians are 200% to 300% more prone to depression than the adult population average - from lack of recognition, through constant critical feedback, high expectations, and stressful working conditions to the pressures of fame. Conventional treatments can have poor or zero outcomes.

By contrast, In a recent Hopkins study of adults with major depression, mushroom extract produced rapid and significant reductions in depressive symptoms. “The magnitude of the effect we saw was about four times larger than what clinical trials have shown for traditional antidepressants on the market,” said Alan Davis, Ph.D.

Career Change & Anxiety

Many in the music industry struggle with career change or end in one’s career. No longer being able to make as good music, experiencing a large scandal, or change of trends and preferences could all cause trouble related to change and may feel directionless in life.

Psychedelic assisted psychotherapy has been shown to help with the personal insights, out-of-the-box thinking, and creativity needed to solve these kinds of life path challenges. Psychedelic medicines can unlock ways to build a new life that ticks all the right boxes. Many people who once felt lost come out of a psychedelic experience with a renewed appreciation for life and a new plan for moving forwards.

Vulnerability & Addiction

Traditional methods to treat opioid addiction often fail - proving ineffective and incapable of reducing withdrawal symptoms. Musicians are especially prone to substance abuse, so many are now looking to psychedelic addiction treatments.

Ibogaine, an indole alkaloid found in the root bark of a West African shrub, is proving to have incredible results in treating addiction, specifically meth and opioids. Some rehabilitation centres have reported 50-80% success rates, with many carefully designed studies verifying claims.

A 2014 study at the John Hopkins School of Medicine included a group of longtime smokers Using psilocybin (the active compound in ‘Magic Mushrooms’) combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy, researchers yielded an efficacy rate of 80%.

Startups at the Forefront of Music and Psychedelics

The founders of the digital application Wavepaths collaborated with world class artists to provide adaptive music both for psychedelic therapy and as psychedelic therapy.

The company develops its music based on peer-reviewed research onthe use of music in psychedelic therapy. Its primary focus at PTSD, depression, and anxiety, treated via psychedelic molecules including MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine.

Lucid is a company which uses advances in AI technology and neuroscience to unlock the full potential of music to improve the human condition.

It creates a data-driven, personalized music design to accompany a patient's psychedelic therapy process. Its offering comes through both mobile app and a digital health platform for personalised music. Furthermore, it has own content library, preventing nostalgic bias and maximizing therapeutic potential.

While not focused on music only, Mindcure is revolutionising the way in which psychedelic healing journeys are held. The company created iSTRYM, an app providing a holistic psychedelic healing journey including preparation for sessions, post-session resources, healing music, and a mindfulness suite.

Its focus is on continuously identifying, innovating, and commercializing new methods to promote mental health, using psychedelics. Apart from indications most commonly targeted in psychedelic therapy, Mindcure addresses many undertreated conditions (e.g. Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder) through psychedelics.

So, What's Next?

In a world where disconnection and isolation are prevalent, the connection between music and psychedelics offers a path towards unity, self-discovery, and expanded consciousness. So, let us embark on this extraordinary journey, allowing the music to carry us beyond the boundaries of the ordinary and into the vast realm of possibility.