Psilocybin and Music - Opening Up a New World to Healing

Psilocybin, or ‘magic mushrooms’ are still being considered a Class A drug in the U.K and completely illegal in many countries, despite being a fungi which grows naturally. The polarised view of the psychedelic is interesting; in the U.K you can be imprisoned for selling the mushrooms found growing in many parts of the country, and yet in South American countries such as Peru and Brazil, and Central American countries such as Costa Rica, plant medicines including Psilocybin and Ayahuasca are being used more widely than ever, in spiritual healing ceremonies. Psychedelics have been used by indigenous people for centuries as part of their culture but since the hippie movement of the 60s and 70s, they have been stigmatised in the West.

In more recent years in the Western World, controlled studies have been taking place, linking Psilocybin to the reduction of depression and anxiety. The mushrooms have been known to aid healing of PTSD, addiction and help people process deep emotional wounds such as grief, guilt and loss. Now in U.S states such as Oregon, Psilocybin has been completely decriminalised and is being used to treat mental illness.

Psychedelics are being spoken about in less stigmatised ways, in books, podcasts and music. The role of psychedelics in music has often been an elusive one; artists such as The Beatles based songs off of LSD (Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds), singer Jim Morrison of ‘The Doors’ was a documented user of the drugs, and Jimi Hendrix was often tripping on stage, according to sources. But in more modern contexts, Psilocybin is being spoken about more openly and we’re beginning to hear of its positive effects through present day music.

I feel as though this highlight on the healing benefits of plant medicine is bringing new waves of radical thinking, encouraging people to negate the things we’re often told about mental illness and addiction, and to go in the search of alternative solutions to our problems. Many music artists are spreading awareness on Psychedelics and using them to aid their own healing and creativity.

Jhene Aiko is the first name which springs to mind when discussing Psilocybin. California native and singer, Jhene hasn’t been afraid of embracing spirituality in her music, and she has consistently explored themes of healing, grief and trauma. She references mushrooms a lot in her music especially in her 2017 album ‘Trip’ which documented her experience with Psychedelics. In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone she spoke about losing her brother and how Psilocybin helped her through her grief. “Plants are healing, and mushrooms are definitely a plant from God.” she says, when discussing what prompted her to create the song, aptly named ‘Psilocybin’.

She sings,

“Got this psilocybin in my pocket

I am a healing prophet

Seeds of promise in my garden

I need to harvest often”

She talks of healing and discovering ‘seeds of promise’ while on her trip, leading her out of the helplessness of losing her brother.

Similarly, on the track ‘Oblivion’, Jhene talks about discovering an elevated state of mind through using Psychedelics.

“I try to find a brighter sight

An elevated, higher sight

It’s out of sight, out of mind”

She sings. When talking about this song and what inspired the concept of

‘Oblivion’, she likened it to the mental clarity that can come from a trip.

“You’re free to just be nothing.” she says.

She talks about making the song with her father, (Dr. Chill) and how they had a “spiritual jam session” when she was making the album which allowed them to bond and heal family wounds.

Jhene made a short film also named ‘Trip’ which showed psychedelic experiences and healing through loss. Featured deeply in the film was the story of her experiences of taking drugs and all of the emotions which followed her brother’s death.

Fellow singer, Sza, has also spoken about her use of Psilocybin. In a 2017 article she credits magic mushrooms with helping her move past fear and anxiety and says the plant released creative blockages leading her to finish her album ‘Ctrl’.

Her newest music video for the song ‘Good Days’ is an entire Psychedelic experience. The video shows her in a mushroom forest living as a mushroom. “I’m a plant living growing and dying .. also on shrooms,” SZA wrote about the music video, and the lyrics allude to the mental clarity that is often experienced during a trip.

“I’ve been on my empty mind shit,” she sings on the track.

Another artist is Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, as he has referenced Psilocybin as being one of the reasons for his new sound and direction.

He discussed in an interview with ‘Vice’, the relationship between hallucinogenic substances and his own creativity.

The 2015 album ‘Currents’ by Tame Impala has often been described as a recount of a psychedelic trip, and while the lyrics are elusive and don’t discuss mushrooms specifically, the album is said to be about ‘personal turbulence and eventual change.’ The thematics of the album all relate to philosophy and a battle with identity and direction.

In the track ‘New person, same old mistakes,’ Kevin sings

“Feel like a brand new person

So, how will I know that it’s right?

In a new direction

So, how will I know I’ve gone too far?”

These lyrics are alluding to the transformation that can occur after a trip.

And in the track ‘Reality in Motion’,

“Not that I was waiting, vision ever fading

Heading for the deep end

Soon as I remember, baby, I surrender

I just need to breathe out

Decisions are approaching, reality in motion”

Kevin talks of visions and surrendering, a term often used when taking plant medicine — surrendering yourself to the drug and allowing yourself to let go of expectation.

Tame Impala’s music is within the Psychedelic Rock genre, and is enjoyed by many fans while experiencing mushrooms. The song ‘Breathe Deeper’ released in 2020, features more reference to Psilocybin, and the music video is a kaleidoscope dream of Psychedelic visions and bright images of mushrooms.

“Breathe a little deeper, should you need to come undone

And let those colours run”

Kevin sings, speaking of the vibrant colours often seen when taking mushrooms.

Harry Styles has also mentioned that he takes mushrooms for the purpose of creativity. ‘The Cut’ called Harry a ‘mushroom guy’ and said “he likes to trip so hard, he sees unsettling patterns in the sky”.

“It’s kind of stress-relieving in a sense,” he said in an interview with ‘The Fix’. “We’d do mushrooms, lie down on the grass” he says, when referencing his time spent in California recording his newest album ‘Fine Line’.

His music video for ‘Lights Up’, a track from the album, shows a euphoric Styles experiencing psychedelic visions. There’s a part in the video where he is gazing at his own reflection, showing feelings of self-acceptance which can often be brought out by Psilocybin.

“Never going back now

It’d be so sweet if things just stayed the same’

He sings on the track, presumably talking about wanting to stay in the Psychedelic state and not return to reality.

The fact that in the present day, artists feel so comfortable discussing these topics, clearly demonstrates how far forward we are moving when bringing conversations of alternative healing to the surface. And music has a huge impact on the matter of what’s acceptable and what’s not — music breaks boundaries and allows for bigger discussions. People are becoming more accustomed to the idea of plant medicines. It’s also evident that we as a society are examining the areas that are working and the areas that are not. Our current mental health system is failing, as can be seen by the APA’s report on Gen Z that stated, “More than nine in 10 Gen Z adults said they have experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom because of stress.” This increase of stress, anxiety, depression and burnout is calling us all to seek alternative ways of medicating, leading us on a path to discover more about the healing mushroom, Psilocybin.