So do psychadelic drugs really help make better music?

[emdot_ambient]

I think that dabbling into substances can open new pathways of yer mind...

My experience says that mostly the "new pathways of yer mind" only equates to new appetites for different drug experiences. I've known a LOT of musician who experimented with drugs and NONE of their creativity came from that experimentation. But a lot of wasted hours did.

Everything in moderation.

I had a history teacher in college who said this quote was invented by Greeks . . . the morning after they had overdone it on sex, alcohol and eating. Kind of their version of: "Oooh, my head. I'll never drink again. Honest!"

Think of it this way: recreational use of drugs is for recreation. I.e., for use only when you DON'T want to get serious work done.

[djguido]

I have pretty much done everything except anything that has to do with needles. So no Heroin or shooting up coke. x was great for a while in my younger days but then when I saw that everybody was doing more and more X to get a buzz, I gave it up. some friends of mine were doing 7 hits a night. But I will say this. When I smoke pot, I get a sudden urge to create a beat and/or song and it usually turns out pretty good. I get more creative and for some reason a good drum rythm, when your high, is very satisfying. To me anyway......I don't know about other people. So here I am at 38 years old and I still drink(socialy) and I still smoke pot. I have some friends that will drink a half a fifth of vodca when they get home from work and I think its much better just to smoke half a joint.

[Stupid American Pig]

I think that dabbling into substances can open new pathways of yer mind...

My experience says that mostly the "new pathways of yer mind" only equates to new appetites for different drug experiences. I've known a LOT of musician who experimented with drugs and NONE of their creativity came from that experimentation. But a lot of wasted hours did.

Everything in moderation.

I had a history teacher in college who said this quote was invented by Greeks . . . the morning after they had overdone it on sex, alcohol and eating. Kind of their version of: "Oooh, my head. I'll never drink again. Honest!"

Think of it this way: recreational use of drugs is for recreation. I.e., for use only when you DON'T want to get serious work done.

You are absolutely right- however, before I smoked pot, I didnt hear music the same way, and it definitely influenced me to add buried sounds in a mix that seem to "pop" out when you are under the influence. Just listen to how the beatles music changed after they discovered "pot" and other things..

I dont use any substances anymore except for booze, as they do random screen where I work. But I do think that getting involved with some things infulenced what I listened to/my ideas about how to make music/trained my ear..

I never can compose under the influence, and I never play my instruments drunk, that just leads to sloppy bad habits.

[cptgone]

I have some friends that will drink a half a fifth of vodca when they get home from work and I think its much better just to smoke half a joint.

If it's an american style joint, yes, I think you're right.

EDIT: on second thought, smoking isn't healthy any which way...

[deleted]

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[vurt]

helps make better psychedelic music for sure

[Jace-BeOS]

I have never done any drugs that didn't come from a doctor's prescription. I'm quite attentive to sounds, rhythm, melody, complex stuff, etc. Didn't need drugs for that. Granted, it might be part of my neurology (I have AS).

I avoid the drugs for two reasons:

1. I don't need or want them (their effects and side-effects)
2. They're illegal in my country/state.

I encourage anyone who thinks they need drugs to make art to take a long hard look at how they live their lives, what they are accomplishing and how much the drugs affect it and in what ways. Is it worth it? Is the risk worth it? I've known many people who turned into ambitionless losers through pot (not suggesting everyone who does it ends up like this, but it bothered me to see brilliant people waste themselves and I have taken it to heart). I've also known people who've been dumped into legal problems because of their "harmless half a joint now and then" habit.

If you want an altered state, try sleep deprivation! It gives you all the same effects pot and acid gives you. I should know...

Please don't think I'm coming down on anyone. I just have seen too many good people waste potential and time on drugs that they don't need.

[ammoniad]

Everyone FREEZE!!!! This is a bust!!!! put your hands on hour head and come out of the opium den.

[emdot_ambient]

I have some friends that will drink a half a fifth of vodca when they get home from work and I think its much better just to smoke half a joint.

What is half a fifth of Vodka? Is that an American measurement???

Yeah, that's a strange Americanism. One fifth is 1/5 of a gallon, or 757 ml. So half a fifth is 378.5 ml.

[D-Fusion]

Yeah, I have the occasional beer myself now only too.
But I've become almost supersensitive to alcohol aswell. I notice one quite well, mentally that is. A bit similar to a feeling of "egoloss".

Same experience here it´s indeed a very strange feeling

[butter]

As stated many times previously, it's going to differ from person to person. How someone reacts to a substance is dependant on a lot of factors. I think that everyone should have some kind of experience with drugs in one form or another as it can be a useful learning experience if you approach it like that.

Poeple usually get locked into the downward spiral of addiction and all of the related problems because they're using drugs for the wrong reasons.

If you're responsible, you probably have little to fear.

[k-bird]

The answer should be 'no' for those who are asking and 'maybe' for those who already know from experience. None of the following is declared in the name of suggesting that people try these substances on my recommendation. Blame Hunter S Thompson or Jimi Hendrix or someone else instead.

Generally speaking, i've found a light dose of psychedelic (sub-hallucinatory i mean, enough to give you the glow) will be good for jamming ideas as your brain starts dropping its natural information filters and gagging that bastard inner critic and his brother prescriptive music theory. (The latter effect is much easier to obtain with a measured quantity of alcohol. It's also legal to do with alcohol.)

Dosing low also means you're not completely off your nut and can find volume sliders and work with things rather than gaze in wonderment and appreciation at a mixing console. It's nicer to let the psychedelic experience synergise with your own creative mood rather than letting it completely take over if you plan to do any work: a tint on reality rather than a colour or even a canvas. Your stash will of course last longer too.

The important thing to know about psychedelics from a creative perspective is that you will be both terminally distracted and terminally focussed. I can think of far better things to do while tripping than be cooped up in a music studio trying to make yourself squeeze out a tune.

I've found the best time for working on music is after the trip during the comedown. Similar head, less distractions.

Psychedelics will not make you more talented or smart or interesting. If you're already a prat then there's nothing they'll be able to fix. People who've employed them to create great things in the past were already quite cleverer than most to begin with.

[jens]

. 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.

WANKER!!!

[McLilith]

I have some friends that will drink a half a fifth of vodca when they get home from work and I think its much better just to smoke half a joint.

If it's an american style joint, yes, I think you're right.

What's an "American style" joint? How is it different?

(I'm really not in touch with this sort of stuff.)


take care,
McLilith

[djguido]

American Joint is 100% pure stinky bud....

But like in Holland they mix it with tabacco.