Psychedelics inspiring artists: A conversation with Sylocin

 

                                                                           Accompany your reading with Sylocin’s music           

 

Without a doubt, one of the first things that comes to our minds when thinking about psychedelics is the distortion of our vision, followed by visual and auditory hallucinations. To most, these hallucinations are mere imagery or part of our hallucinations generated by our brain, but how would someone with an artistic vein perceive such changes in their sensory and neural sites? 

To understand more how these compounds may influence and inspire someone’s art, we spoke to EDM music producer Sylocin. 

 

 

When did you start producing music and what inspires you?

I first downloaded Fruity Loops when I was 11, around 2014. What inspired me was just a desire to create something that I already like.

 

Who are some artists you look up to?

Aphex Twin, Armin van Buuren, Headhunterz, S3RL, Shpongle. I incorporate sounds that remind me of the aforementioned artists.

 

When did you first learn about psychedelics and what do they mean to you?

When I was in middle school we had our science teacher at the time educate us on all of the drugs but I only remembered MDMA and Marijuana. A year later I wanted to astral project because it sounded cool and I stumbled upon a youtube video describing the similarities between astral projection and DMT. I wanted to try DMT, I was 12.

 

How did psychedelics influence your life and how much did they impact your music production?

Significantly, Psychedelics gave me some auditory-visual synesthesia that remains. I have a highly colorful and abstract music video synchronized to what I am making in my “mind’s eye”.

 

Have psychedelics influenced your perception of sound and music theory? If so, how?

I don’t know music theory. However, my auditory discrimination has been enhanced by psychedelics.

 

Can you describe a particular moment or breakthrough in your music production that occurred while under the influence of psychedelics?

I don’t produce on psychedelics. I am too incapacitated when I use them, it’s been a long time.

 

How do you prepare for a music production session when you plan to incorporate psychedelics? Do you have a specific setting or ritual?

I am spontaneous and independent of the incorporation of psychedelics.

 

Do you find that certain psychedelics have different effects on your creativity? For example, does LSD inspire you differently than psilocybin mushrooms?

Yes but I’m not familiar with tryptamines much. LSD would be better to make music on than mushrooms. However, I do use cannabis beforehand on occasion and it helps to motivate me to create a richer sound.

 

Are there any specific songs you’ve created that were directly inspired by a psychedelic experience? If so, can you tell us about them?

All of my songs are fine-tuned; meaning the whole song’s pitch is increased by .2 – .7 semitones. It recreates a surreal chord progression.

 

How do you capture and retain the creative ideas that come to you during a psychedelic experience for later use in your music?

Panning of sound effects, making noises move left to right and in other dimensions if the software is advanced enough. I can’t make you feel someone breathe on your neck (external tactile stimuli).

 

Have psychedelics changed the way you perceive or use musical technology?

I see music because of psychedelics and they’ve aided in details.

 

In what ways have psychedelics altered your perception of genres and musical styles?

I have more appreciation for all genres of music; it’s art after all.

 

Have you noticed any long-term changes in your creativity or music production skills as a result of using psychedelics?

No I have not.

 

What advice would you give to other music producers who are considering using psychedelics to enhance their creativity?

Listen to their music of inspiration and try to replicate what you heard. For instance, I was listening to Angel Eyes by Brisk and Ham (altered) on LSD and I heard a heart rate monitor beeping in synchrony to the melody and kick drum, every 2 beats at 190-205 bpm. So you would overlap a piano roll with a heart beating and monitor beeping sound. Creating a track is equivalent to how one draws or writes a novel in terms of one’s creative approach.

 

What’s your favorite music to listen to while on psychedelics?

Rave Music. The Supersaws sound much more rich and the kick drums more crispy.

 

Where can people find your music?

On all streaming platforms. I go by the name “Sylocin” and yes it is “psilocin” misspelled. I’ll give the audience the liberty to pronounce it however they like.