KVR Audio

the_nihilist · Post by **the_nihilist** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 7:35 am

Since there seems to always be a discussed link with musical talent and psychadelic hallucinogens, it begs the question as to whether they do have an effect on the music that one makes. Can anyone with experience comment on the pros and cons of taking hallucinogenic drugs? Did your perception of music change after a hallucinogenic experience? And possibly most important, assuming that psychadelic drugs do have an effect, which ones are most conductive to establishing a different musical paradigm?

Cordelia · Post by **Cordelia** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 7:47 am

I've played for hours tripping (LSD, X, mushrooms). I've recorded myself for hours tripping. It always sounded like crap when played back the next morning. My perception of music changed during the trip, but the effect was lost when I came down.
The pros- fun bonding experiences with friends.
The cons- friends who got lost forever.
I'm not exactly sorry I've done it, but I wouldn't do it again.

mandolarian · Post by **mandolarian** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 7:52 am

Think it's the other way round. Tunes make dope dope.

gunnar · Post by **gunnar** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:05 am

my approach is:
being in a clear and relaxed state is by faar the best start to get in touch with me and my feelings.
a clouded start gives clouded results.

Kriminal · Post by **Kriminal** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:10 am

You can listen to music on drugs, but dont try and make music on drugs. The Drugs dont work

z15 · Post by **z15** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:22 am

i find it funny that people are constantly going "whoa those pink floyd guys must have taken loadsa acid since their music is so trippy and out of this world" while in reality the only hardcore acidhead of them was syd barrett and we all know what happened to him.

the rest of them were just damn talented musicians who loved to experiment. i'm not saying that they never took drugs - just that their creation didn't seem to be fuelled by psychedelics like some people seem to think.

hawkwind - now there's an entirely different story...

Swami Love · Post by **Swami Love** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:29 am

If you're grounded with real 'straight' musicality, creativity and come at it with an open heart, psych drugs can be a boon. For every individual its different. I would lean towards taking them and checking it out for yourself. Its worth it IMHO. Don't let the 'scare stories' dissuade you if you have the curiousity to pursue this...there's nothing to lose (unless you are unstable to begin with). Go for it I say.

Metanol · Post by **Metanol** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:40 am

Swami Love wrote:...there's nothing to lose (unless you are unstable to begin with).

So, "unstable" people just get what they deserve if they get schizophrenic or depressed.

braj · Post by **braj** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:43 am

I think you can make some interesting stuff when you're high, but I think the psychedellic experience gives you inspiration to do stuff later when you're sober. Now, listening to music high is great.

My guess the best drug for playing high would be heroin. Look at Bird and all the jazz cats, and I know Jerry Garcia played some of his most amazing shows when he was riding the horse. Lots and lots of other examples. Too bad it's so bad for the rest of your life.

aldred · Post by **aldred** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:45 am

I expect if you have no sense and bad ears when sober, you're going to have no sense and bad ears when you're doped up. Just trippy no sense and bad ears.

mark

deaneager · Post by **deaneager** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:50 am

Life experiences make musicians / songwriters better. Hallucinogens are a pretty major life experience. Many artists since time began have been influenced by hallucinogens in their art. I think that it all becomes problematic when you try and combine the tripping and creative process, I mean, how can you be musically adept when you're so f*cked you're struggling with normal, simple everyday activities? Divorce the two and great things can happen though.

braj · Post by **braj** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:52 am

Playing guitar on acid is really, really hard.

toine6 · Post by **toine6** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 9:05 am

Trent Reznor said drugs made it seem like he had cotton in his head, his thinking was clouded and unclear. He said something to the effect that drugs actually made him worse at making music. He does better when he thinks clearlly which would be while he's not under the influence.

Choose wisely, for drugs can and do lead many people down an irreversible course that they can not escape from.

braj · Post by **braj** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 9:08 am

toine6 wrote:
Choose wisely, for drugs can and do lead many people down an irreversible course that they can not escape from.

So can porn, potato chips, and the military.

KCC3.14 · Post by **KCC3.14** » Sun Jul 17, 2005 9:17 am

Tripping during music making doesn't give good results, although it might seem so when you are doing it...

But the trip experience itself can be an inspiration later on. I remember a Nobel prize winning chemist saying in an interview that his earlier lsd experiences helped him to achieve his scientific goals. It made it easier for him to imagine how particles worked together. He said he could imagine sitting on a particle... So it can help the creative process. Just not during the trip, but afterwards.
For me taking acid was pretty much a life altering experience, it changed my perception of reality for ever.

So do psychadelic drugs really help make better music?