[Solved] What is the best psychedelic music?

The “best” psychedelic music is personal and depends heavily on your emotional sensitivity, experience with psychedelics, and the intention of your session. Nevertheless, there are certain pieces of music that have proven themselves time and again to be particularly powerful and transformative during psychedelic therapy — and these are also regularly used by the Triptherapie supervisors.

Top selection of the best psychedelic music

Based on therapeutic depth, emotional impact, and proven effectiveness during sessions, these are the most recommended tracks:

1. “Standing as One” – Peter Kater & R. Carlos Nakai

   1. Why: opens the heart, promotes compassion and a sense of unity. Ideal for MDMA or deep psilocybin sessions.

   2. ExperienceMany people get goosebumps and tears from this song.

2. “The End” – Lisa Gerrard & Harry Gregson-Williams

   1. Why: perfect for processing grief and letting go. Intense build-up and release.

   2. Experience: Is often used in people with PTSD, loss, or traumatic memories.

3. “Echo Inside” – Peter Kater

   1. Why: calming piano sounds that stimulate introspection. Suitable for the beginning of the trip.

   2. Experience: Helps release physical tension and emotional unrest.

4. “Deep in the Glowing Heart” – Jon Hopkins

   1. Why: modern ambient sound with layers that feel like an ascent.

   2. ExperienceMany users describe visuals as flying with birds or floating through light.

5. “Trøstesang” – Gjermund Larsen

   1. Why: traditional and comforting. Fits well at the end of the session.

   2. Experience: Feels like coming home or landing after a long inner journey.

These musical pieces are also incorporated into the carefully composed playlists by Triptherapie on Spotify, which are specially designed for sessions with psilocybin, truffles, or MDMA. The music is often free of understandable vocals to ensure your experience is as pure as possible.

How do you choose the best music for *your* trip?

The ideal psychedelic music:

• Align with your intention (e.g. healing, letting go, gratitude)
• Is not too busy or text-oriented, so that you are not distracted
• Has a layered structure, so that it takes you along in your process

Do you want to know which music can best accompany you during a truffle session or psilocybin ceremony? Then you can indicate that during the intake, so that your session and soundtrack are fully tailored to your process.

I am also working on a new playlist for psychedelic sessions. We will be testing this soon and using it during the psychedelic sessions and ceremonies.

Apparently, there is no 'best' psychedelic music that works for everyone. However, we do notice that certain music generally works better for multiple people. It is therefore a matter of tuning in and even adjusting during the session. We, as trip facilitators and therapists at Triptherapie, have multiple playlists and tracks that we can use. It remains a custom approach.

A song that works well for me is Forever Held by Jon Hopkins. And there is a lot more music by Jon Hopkins that works well.

Echo Inside by Jon Hopkins is a good one too! And also consider Max Richter's music; he has a lot of good soundtracks for psychedelic trips.

Good overview of Research and Marcel! I would like to add here that scientific research shows that the effectiveness of music during psychedelic therapy depends heavily on how it stimulates memory function and emotional processing.

When psilocybin or MDMA is used in a therapeutic setting, music works via various neurobiological mechanisms. The default mode network (DMN), which is normally responsible for self-focused thinking and rumination, becomes less active under the influence of these substances. Music with emotional depth can optimize this reduced activity and help people safely process traumas and emotional blockages.

This is exactly why Research's selection is so effective. Songs like "Standing as One" and "The End" have a natural emotional arc that aligns with the psychological phases of a therapeutic session. They guide you from openness and vulnerability (first phase) to integration and healing (later phases).

For practical application: many therapists also work with silent moments so that your own inner process is not drowned out by music. This creates space for your own intuition and bodily sensations.

What many people don't realize: the best psychedelic music is actually music you are personally emotionally attached to, but chosen with a therapeutic intention. This sounds contradictory, but it is important nonetheless.

It goes like this: if you put on a song that is popular among therapists but that you don't connect with yourself, it might work, but it feels distant. On the other hand: if you put on your favorite rock song, it doesn't have to be a success.

The second point: music acts as an anchor during psychedelic experiences. Your brain makes associations. "The End" by Lisa Gerrard might mean letting go for you, but for someone else, that same song might get stuck in trauma, and then you need a different song.

The third consideration is timing. Research's selection is really strong, but you don't want to play the same tracks as everyone else. Marcel is working on new lists, and that is good—music also works through variety. Your brain adapts. A track that hit you deep in your first session might not resonate at all in your third session.

Finally: music isn't everything. The atmosphere in the room (aromatic substances, lighting, temperature) interacts with the music. Research is right that pure instrumental music works better—but the absence of sound between songs is also sometimes therapeutically welcome.