I just created a new blog entry on my website and would like to post it here:
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Some while ago the mushroom magazine sent some email in order to get some opinions from labels and such. I got to read those and one question actually triggered my mind. Mushroom didn't respond to it, but I'd like to share my thoughts here:
Mushroom Question:
What do you think about the scene evolution? For example techno has
become an ingredient of Trance parties, what do you think is the
development? Will the scene split? Will a part of it melt with the
Techno scene?
SubConsciousMind- Answer:
What actually is the "scene"? Some say "Trance scene" others "Psychedelic trance scene" others call it the "psychedelic movement". In my opinion such borders are always fluent, definitions never precise. So to elaborate on this lets stick to the core of "it" which is coming from the sixties and call it "The psychedelic movement". That way it's clear, but still relatively open to development and change.
If we go from this premise "psychedelic movement" and ask about the influence of techno (or anything) on the scene we consequently have to say: Whatever new style there is, as long as it is "psychedelic" it should have its place in the scene. We only need to remember that this is a psychedelic movement after all.
Well, a psychedelic movement is not just fun, it's not just distraction and party. It's an ideology, it's a quest for mindexpansion and gaining consciousness, a journey away from adaption to being ourselves, it's a lifestyle, it involves spirituality and after all it is based on the hippy movement and its ideas.
Consequently we should think more boundless, not restricted to styles. The psychedelic idea of the movement is important and the music consequently should support that. But how is it today? Is the techno which is involved into psytrance parties psychedelic? Is the psytrance which is involved in psytrance parties psychedelic? Sometimes? Is it enough? Why not include any music with psychedelic effects? Psy-minimal, Psy-techno, Psy-rock, Psy-jazz maybe even Psy-country? Any style can be psychedelic if the artist intends to do it that way.
In the end all that should count is to follow the original ideas. Don't we want to create a new world? A world with room for emotions, sensitivity, borderless spirituality, freedom or simply spoken: Us being ourselves? A world where we can open our senses, hearts and touch each other without fear? Music can even support that. Especially mindexpanding music, psychedelic music so to speak.
But the declaration of "psychedelic" isn't easy and certainly can't be done by just naming styles even if there are tendencies of more or less psychedelic styles. It's difficult, some music opens us up other rather closes us down just as some drugs do. But anyways: This has to be judged on a song by song basis and not generally by style. There is minimal which is more psychedelic than full-on-trance and dark-psy and the other way round. We should remember that every song, just as every person, needs its own chance to be looked at. We don't judge people by their nationality or their age, why should we judge music by its style? That wouldn't be very mind-expanded, would it? In a truly psychedelic movement every psychedelic song should have its place, no matter where it comes from.
In this context another subject needs to be raised. A lot of people talk about the influence of other musical styles onto psytrance and the develoment of the scene, but what about the drugs? Speed and cocaine are some of them. They and the songs attached to them (made under that influence) are obviously not compatible with a psychedelic movement. Actually drugs like cocaine are typically used from bad politicians, bankers, those who actually create the world we, the people in the psychedelic movement, don't want. When used regulary these drugs basically disconnect from heart, soul and emotion. These drugs (not the people using them) actually change the atmosphere, the vibe, around the consumers in a way which seriously disturbs sensitive people and makes it a lot more difficult, if not impossible, for them to enoy themselves and actually have psychedelic experiences. Nevertheless today the impression arises that the use of cocain and similar has become normal in the psytrance scene. It seems that many psychedelic trancers have forgotten that cocaine and speed are totally unpsychedelic.
Why do I talk about this here? Simple: Why bother about techno within the Psytrance scene if cocaine is influencing the scene on a far deeper basis? Why do we let these drugs and they way they affect people have so much influence on the scene? What is the deeper reason for all that anyways? Why do people use drugs who shut off or control their feelings?
Will the scene spilt? Maybe that is not the right word. It's to assume, to hope, that whatever new style enters the psychedelic movement will be converted into a psychedelic variant of it and will be assimilated sooner or later. People who are not interested in the original ideas of the psychedelic movement (anymore) might take the opportunity to leave the scene into another direction and hopefully take the unpsychedelic drugs with them. All this, in the future hopefully results in a truely psychedelic scene full of psychedelic styles with very strong and conscious ideas.
Most of my music for you to download at:
http://www.subconsciousmind.ch
gutter
Inactive User
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Posted : Apr 7, 2009 16:45
i guess that hurt cokeheads from the magazine administration overall youre right scm, psychedelic is funny, sad, odd, fluffy, wobble, smooth, kinky, stoned, even aggressive , emotions and states that coexist within us & for sure it
cannot be described with "one" sound or "one" style/genre, its just impossible
Adigroovy
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Apr 7, 2009 19:20
@SCM, very well answered. it's obvious why they don't reply as gutter said.
to use your head you have to go out of your mind
faxinadu
Faxi Nadu / Elmooht
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Posted : Apr 7, 2009 19:35
On 2009-04-07 16:20:00, subconsciousmind wrote:
Why do I talk about this here? Simple: Why bother about techno within the Psytrance scene if cocaine is influencing the scene on a far deeper basis? Why do we let these drugs and they way they affect people have so much influence on the scene? What is the deeper reason for all that anyways? Why do people use drugs who shut off or control their feelings?
About this i would like to give my opinion... I think that "...people use drugs who shut of their feelings..." because people are afraid to feel. It´s easier to be in control of your emotions with thoose drugs so people can be easily misleading thinking that thoose drugs will give theme the ego and the power that they need to feel superior from the rest.
It´s like you said this mentality changed a lot the feeling and the vibe that our scene were so used too.
anyway loved to read your opinion about the subject.
Cheers
Colin OOOD
OOOD/Voice of Cod
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Posted : Apr 7, 2009 20:23
Soul Kontakt
Soul Kontakt
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Posted : Apr 8, 2009 00:22
The scene has been split for a long time, i don't know why bother anymore talking about this subject because there is nothing to talk about anymore, were is the psychedelic movement? Nobody knows it's inside of us yes but apart from that i never feel it happening in a party anymore, maybe i have changed or maybe everything has changed and i am still the same lolol
Nectarios
Martian Arts
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Posted : Apr 8, 2009 12:04
it is a big mistake to blame drugs, or certain drugs for the lack of good psychedelic music. also consider that music that I feel is shite, other people think is great.
the music changes direction and goes to where the biggest push takes it. it is the main reason that we have had 9 years of the israeli cheese fest. that's because most people consider it to be full power psychedelic music, and only a few people (including my self) found no elements of psychedelia in it.
and on the subject of cocaine, there's good cocaine and there's bad cocaine, just like lsd, mandy...any kind of drug. on top of that, there are good people and bad people using those drugs.
another mistake is to stick to just one...QOTSA said it best when they said....
On 2009-04-08 12:04, pipe&slippers wrote:
it is a big mistake to blame drugs, or certain drugs for the lack of good psychedelic music. also consider that music that I feel is shite, other people think is great.
and on the subject of cocaine, there's good cocaine and there's bad cocaine, just like lsd, mandy...any kind of drug. on top of that, there are good people and bad people using those drugs.
I think this is all totally wrong.
First of all each drug has a specific way of altering ourselves. It is a well known fact that people who use LSD tend to listen to specific music and people who use cocain listen to specific music (not style). Furthermore artists and DJs who use cocaine or LSD are very very easy to spot. Especially the use of cocaine is obvious in many artists work. You can talk to any drugconsumer and they will all tell you that depending on the drug the respond differently to different kinds of music. Therefore some music is better suited for some drugs and music created under the influence of a drug certainly appeals more to users of these drug than to users of another drug. These are very obvious and every days experiences.
Furthermore "bad people"... I have never met bad people in my life. Maybe they exist but I never saw them at parties. All I saw are people who are abusing themselves and under influence of a multitude of factors behaved in ways which actually made me feel very bad.
It doesn't matter if it is "good cocaine" or "bad cocaine" the way it affects people who use it regulary is well known and not negotiable. Cocaine is a "closer", its the drug who controls the emotion and the life within humans and when used regulary may even shut it down completely. Its the "control" drug. The fact that you actually try to defend it is exactly the problem withing the scene. Most people tend to play the use of cocaine down, tend to pretend it is harmless or that "good cocaine" is better than "bad cocaine"..
Most of all not-cocaine users will tell you that the presence of cocaine users is very unpleasent for them. And clearly cocaine is anything BUT never ever psychedelic.
In my experience cocaine users are very often very sensitive people with very strong emotions. Often these people have trouble handling all the input they get at a party and even more often they don't even know that. The use of cocaine or also speed enables them to actually "survive" a party or some life situations, because without it they would lose control completely, would be overwhelmed by emotions form themselves and, but more tricky, from their surrounding.
The tragic thing is, that the more people use cocaine, the more the environment becomes very "hostile to sensitivity and life" and actually being in that environment becomes more difficult. A way out is to go or to use cocaine to not perceive it anymore. A vicious circle. If also DJs and Artists use cocaine the unsensitivity also reflects in the choice of music and sensitive persons who are able to shield themselves against the vibes of the consumers do now also need to shield themselves against the vibe of the music, which often is also very hostile... way out?: leave or use drugs who close your emotional channel like cocaine, speed, but also alcohole or, when used in excess, marihuana.
Using opening drugs like LSD or MDMA has become very rare at parties because of a simple reason: Its close to impossible to go to a party and open up. The environement and Music often is so hostile that you end up in a complete overload or even bad trip caused by all the crazy vibes around you. Most of the music and people are simply not handable when being fully opened.
I think the main problem is not the people, not even the drugs, but the fact that most humans, people do not know how sensitive beings we all are. A huge part of the people in the world have no idea how much they perceive their environment and how many of their emotions actually come from OUTSIDE. They are not aware that they are connected to everything and they have perceptions, feelings which they are not aware of, and when they are negative they think its something wrong with themselves. Their way out: Do something to not feel anymore, use a drug like cocaine, speed or alcohole or listen to music which leaves no room for emotions and perceptions. In my opionion this is the deeper reason for all this.
Nectarios
Martian Arts
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Posted : Apr 8, 2009 13:16
Quote:
On 2009-04-08 12:47, subconsciousmind wrote:
I think this is all totally wrong.
First of all each drug has a specific way of altering ourselves. It is a well known fact that people who use LSD tend to listen to specific music and people who use cocain listen to specific music (not style). Furthermore artists and DJs who use cocaine or LSD are very very easy to spot.
Especially the use of cocaine is obvious in many artists work. You can talk to any drugconsumer and they will all tell you that depending on the drug the respond differently to different kinds of music. Therefore some music is better suited for some drugs and music created under the influence of a drug certainly appeals more to users of these drug than to users of another drug. These are very obvious and every days experiences.
How many people do you know that only use one kind of drug? The only problem with cocaine is that it is extremely over rated and it is the stance that a lot of poeple have towards it, that makes it a problem.
Its a stupid substance, just something to do when you are bored and wanna have stupid conversations with your mates, nothing more nothing less. If its good cocaine the fun factor is exaggerated, but in any case, you will never get the religious experiences you get from some good acid.
Have a go at listening to my music and tell me what I have been using then?
Quote:
On 2009-04-08 12:47, subconsciousmind wrote:
Furthermore "bad people"... I have never met bad people in my life. Maybe they exist but I never saw them at parties. All I saw are people who are abusing themselves and under influence of a multitude of factors behaved in ways which actually made me feel very bad.
"Bad" people are the people who have lost control, the addicts that have crossed the line...not "evil doers", hope you get my meaning. they are on a downward spiral, irrespective of the drug they choose to cane...
Quote:
On 2009-04-08 12:47, subconsciousmind wrote:
It doesn't matter if it is "good cocaine" or "bad cocaine" the way it affects people who use it regulary is well known and not negotiable. Cocaine is a "closer", its the drug who controls the emotion and the life within humans and when used regulary may even shut it down completely. Its the "control" drug. The fact that you actually try to defend it is exactly the problem withing the scene. Most people tend to play the use of cocaine down, tend to pretend it is harmless or that "good cocaine" is better than "bad cocaine"..
I am not defending cocaine, I am defending human traits, I am defending having fun on various substances that don't turn you into a total c*nt. I am defending the fact that all these things bring out the stuff we have inside, Im am defending the fact that it is up to each and everyone of us to deal with the different sides of our own selves. if you cane it, you know you are walking into woods, if you get lost, don't blame the shoes you walked in that got you to that place...if you know what I mean.
Quote:
On 2009-04-08 12:47, subconsciousmind wrote:
Most of all not-cocaine users will tell you that the presence of cocaine users is very unpleasent for them. And clearly cocaine is anything BUT never ever psychedelic.
No its not, does it have to be? alcohol is not psychedelic either, but I love being drunk (not completely pissed) in a party, is that wrong?
Quote:
On 2009-04-08 12:47, subconsciousmind wrote:
Using opening drugs like LSD or MDMA has become very rare at parties because of a simple reason: Its close to impossible to go to a party and open up. The environement and Music often is so hostile that you end up in a complete overload or even bad trip caused by all the crazy vibes around you. Most of the music and people are simply not handable when being fully opened.
I disagree with that one. my only argument is that I do it and its always turned out fine. I candyflipped this NYE and even if the music was not good (great when MWNN was playing, shite when U-Recken came on), I had a great time socialising with my mates and other people I met on the night.
Quote:
On 2009-04-08 12:47, subconsciousmind wrote:
I think the main problem is not the people, not even the drugs, but the fact that most humans, people do not know how sensitive beings we all are.
On that we agree, that is why I think its wrong to blame drugs. I am glad you came to my words, although you thought I was totally wrong at first http://soundcloud.com/martianarts
goaren
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Apr 8, 2009 13:33
i dunno why this turned into a drug article... i agree with many opinions here, but i started to listen to trance when i was about 12 - and i got touched and connected to the feel and emotion that what we refer to today as goa trance had in it (and there is music today that still has it), and i had no idea about any drugs and hardly even alcohol, not to mention not knowing myself or the surrounding environment - i just got connected to the music and the people (music being first) - as opposed to today where i know alot more and now i first care about the people then the music, but its almost on the same scale (cuz you can enjoy shitty music with good people and not the other way around - atleast in my eyes). drugs have become a part of this, but they were never a leading factor in my choice of music/event/whatever.
i think all this discussion being pulled to the directions of which drug causes what and who uses it and why they create the music they does nothing but harm this "movement" or "scene" - even tho they might be an integral part - they are not a core ingredient and they shouldnt be considered as one.
i think the discussion should revolve around the people and the music itself, after you investigate that area you can start talking about the effect of certain drugs on todays situation.
I understand that you still can use MDMA or LSD, some people still can and of course if the party is right a lot of people can. I'm just speaking of a general tendency.
As for the rest. I really think we agree on most, except that I find the "drugs for fun" mostly an excuse for not wanting to see deeper reasons. Surely the few time experiences of drugs can be for fun reasons only, but as soon as there is regularity there are deeper reasons and "fun" is just a pleasent excuse.
As for Alcohole not being psychedelic, yes its true and I don't like to be at parties where everybody is completeley drunk either. Its not as worse as coke parties, but similar. It's of course not a matter of black and white only, little alcohole can be totally easy and even enable people to be more open than without alcohol. so it can be a good thing.
As for people only using one kind of drug. I don't think I know anyone. But most people I know clearly tend to either shut themselves down with drugs or open themselves up. Far more shut themselves down, obviously. When it comes to speed and cocaine I just saw the most terrible effects on them, the parties and the music.
