Fall 2025 Psychedelic Class Playlist

There, deep in the forest, the wolf wins...

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Shine On You Crazy Diamond pts. I-V – Pink Floyd (Tori & Camlin) – Reach for the secret...

Breathe Deeper – Tame Impala (Viv) – The Slow Rush, released in 2020, was influenced by psychedelic experiences and coincides with Kevin Parker’s interest in time and space; almost every song on the album has specific psychedelic meaning. “Breathe Deeper” captures his first experience with ecstasy and is designed to let the audience go on a MDMA experience of their own. Tame Impala has been coined Parker’s psychedelic music project.

Parabola – TOOL (Camlin) – Recognize this as a holy gift & celebrate this chance to be alive & breathing...

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger - Daft Punk (Hannah) - Guy-manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter are the two members of the french electronic music duo Daft Punk. They released the song Veridis Quo in March 2001 on their Discovery album. An iconic tune on this album is the "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" song which was incredibly popular in American pop culture and has been remixed by artists like Diplo and Kayne West. Thematically, according to Bangalter, this ablum is supposed to be reminiscent of de Homem-Christo and Bangalter's childhood (1975-1985) and is meant to encourage nostalgic feelings and playfulness, honesty and open-mindedness that children possess. This album was inspired by their childhood love for anime and so they collaborated with Leiji Matsumoto to produce an anime called Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem. The discovery album serves as Interstella 5555's soundtrack. 

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L$D - A$AP Rocky (Tanika) - I selected the song “L$D” by A$AP Rocky due to its direct implication of a LSD experience both through its lyrics and the visuals. In the video we see neon lights, distorted cityscapes, lapses in time, and dreamlike colors, all of which represent the experience of one who is experiencing a psychedelic trip.  The influence of psychedelics is clear in both the production and lyrical content of “L$D.” Musically, the track has a slow, floating quality, with warped visuals and hypnotic rhythms that mimic the altered sense of time and perception linked to psychedelics. From a psychological perspective, the song reflects themes of altered states of consciousness, emotional intensity, and the blurring of self–other boundaries, all of which connect directly to how psychedelics impact human cognition and emotion. The artist himself has a history of psychedelic use stating that it “changed his life forever, as it helped me open my heart.” His music suggests that a psychedelic experience can both dissolve traditional boundaries and expand awareness.

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Acid Rain - Chance the Rapper (Jason)  - Chance the Rapper's 2013 mixtape, Acid Rap, is a widely known work in the modern hip-hop space that was heavily inspired by psychedelic experiences. As the name suggests, LSD and its influence are heavily woven into the very fabric of the mixtape, from its title to its sound and lyrical content. Chancelor Bennett, in speaking about this work, revealed that while LSD was certainly involved in the recording of this mixtape, it was to a much lesser degree than listeners may have expected.  Bennett stated, "It wasn't the biggest component at all. . . It was more so just a booster, a bit of fuel. It's an allegory to acid, more so than just a tape about acid. Expanding outwards, this mixtape coincided with a cultural shift that featured African American youth adopting and embracing aspects that were previously seen as taboo or commonly associated with whiteness, such as skateboarding, druggie culture, and the notion of weirdness as a whole. Individuals such as Tyler the Creator, Mac Miller, and Chance the Rapper, and the music they created at this time, offered not only a space for “othered” voices to feel seen, but also to feel comfortable exploring themes of mental health and introspection, sometimes in connection with psychedelic use. As a young black male in a predominantly white environment, this album was groundbreaking in my introspection of my identities and my exploration around what I deemed appropriate for the space I was in. 

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Devil Like Me - Rainbow Kitten Surprise (Raz) – Rainbow Kitten Surprise (RKS) is an indie, folky, rock band that formed in 2013. The name of the band in itself evokes color and feelings associated with psychedelics. The backstory behind the name originated from the bands friend, who while on a morphine drip receiving treatment for a terminal illness, suggested they name their band “Rainbow Kitten Surprise.” Sequentially, the band began to build a following while starting in their dorm room, recording music and performing through local shows. Currently, they have built momentum, performing in larger stadiums and music festivals where they are identified for their eclectic colors, lights, and music that is inspired by a history of psychedelic use. The lead singer, Ela Melo, is a trans woman who transitioned during the course of her career with the band and has poured her heart into the lyrics of the songs she sings. The lyrics often mix religious references, existential themes, and dreamlike images. Ela’s transition, along with a history of mental health struggles, is shared in her music, as she embodies the importance of authenticity and connecting to the Self.

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Way Out There – Lord Huron (Camlin) – Wander out there & see what we’re worth. Cheers Tubbs!

Tomorrow Never Knows - The Beatles (Mina) – In the 1960s, the American counterculture movement was influenced by Eastern spiritual leaders and practices such as yoga and meditation. This Eastern influence inspired a desire to expand consciousness which is consistent with the motivation for using psychedelics. This song, Tomorrow Never Knows, reflects abstract and existential ways of thought. Even the name of the record reflects this by sort of personifying a day of the week. The title also reflects the awareness that there is certainty in the uncertainty of the future. The lyrics, “Turn off your mind, Relax and float down a stream,” suggest how using psychedelics can be a way to relax and step away from the arousal of regular life. The following line, “It is not dying,” could imply some anxiety that comes with letting go of the control one may perceive having over one’s life or even control of thoughts. The line, “Surrender to the void,” further refers to the uncomfortable act of letting go. The following line, “It is shining,” may be hinting to the listener to be hopeful of positive outcomes and perspectives. Considering that line with the following lines, “That you may see, The meaning of within,” may refer to the idea of becoming enlightened of the true meaning of life. The following lines, “It is being, That love is all, That love is everyone,” expand on what that meaning could entail—simply existing (maybe without fears of performance and being something society attributes value to, etc), love, and social connectedness. The rest of the lyrics expand on the meaning suggested in the previous lyrics and could help facilitate a contemplative and transcendental experience for one who is interested.

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Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun - Pink Floyd (Camlin) - Witness the man who raves at the wall, making the shape of his question to heaven. Love is the shadow that ripens the wine. Will we remember the lesson of giving???

American Dream - LCD Soundsystem (Molly) - "American Dream” is a song by LCD Soundsystem released on May 5, 2017. While the entirety of the song does not revolve around psychedelic experiences, it draws upon themes that often arise in response to psychedelic experiences. In the first verse, the song states “You took acid and looked in the mirror; Watched the beard crawl around on your face.” Looking in the mirror after taking LSD is a commonly discouraged endeavor. In this song, LCD Soundsystem points to the sudden realization of getting older when seeing himself in the mirror while undergoing a psychedelic experience. While there are many interpretations of this song, it touches on existential themes that emerge for many who undergo a psychedelic experience. The overall theme of the song is focused on seeing a ‘truth’ about the fragility of life, reflecting on one’s own way of living, and no longer being able to return to life after this truth has been revealed.

Locket - Crumb (Tylyn) – "Locket" by Crumb, is a song that was released on June 23, 2017. Crumb is a band of four individuals, who found each other during college. Locket was one of the first songs they released as a band. Although the lyrics of the songs themselves are not necessarily inspired by psychedelic experiences, the vibe of their music, the art for their covers, and especially the music video they created for this song was. One of the things I love most about this song and band is that they choose every aspect of their music carefully and thoughtfully. Their hope for each song they release is to encapsulate the listener into a small bubble where they can have a full experience within the song, rather than just ‘listening to music’. When I think about this, it reminds me of psychedelics. From my knowledge, there are various reasons as to why someone might indulge in psychedelics. The most salient in my mind, include personal or spiritual exploration, deepening self-knowledge or insight, or to have a spiritual experience. When I listen to this song I feel like I am able to have a similar, although not psychedelic, experience.

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Stop Trying to Be God - Travis Scott (Cosmic Ash) - "Stop Trying to be God” is a song from Astroworld released on August 3, 2018, by Travis Scott, (Jacques Bermon Webster II). This album is notoriously tied to psychedelics. “Stop Trying to be God” heavily resonated with me upon my first listen as a high schooler in 2018 and more so now as a graduate student. It continues the the weightless theme from the introductory track that so many psychedelic trips contain. The words “Stop Trying to be God” are repeated throughout the song as a reminder for Travis Scott, however more for the listener. For myself, this song is like a direct call out to me, as someone who typically has a high level of trait anxiety. Due to my anxiety, I tend to overthink and worry about the outcomes of a variety of things and so I try to control whatever I can to limit this distress. The song reminds me that I am not a God, I never will be, and all I am is a human who can only control what I can.

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Sativa - Jhené Aiko (Jason) -  Jhené Aiko's 2017 album, Trip, is aptly named. This work is the culmination of Aiko's experiences turning to spirituality, drugs, and concurrently music to navigate the loss of her brother Miyagi in 2012. Featuring psychedelic-inspired cover art, my personal favorite track is “Sativa,” it translates the hallucinogenic highs of substances like weed, LSD, and shrooms into sound. Overall, this album is truly a sonically pleasant, yet vulnerable lens into her emotional landscape as she goes through her journey(s).

The Balancer’s Eye – Lord Huron (Camlin) – Here tomorrow, gone today...​

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Light My Love - Greta Van Fleet (Tori) - Flames glowing bright as the sun deeper than oceans you run. Watch as our world has begun. I have seen pictures of time, the frames still in motion, I find a grand revolution outlined, hate bound by fear will unwind. Your mind is a stream of colors, extending beyond our sky, a land of infinite wonders a billion light years from here now.

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Pneuma – TOOL (Camlin) – We are a will & a wonder. Release the light...

The Great Gig in the Sky – Pink Floyd (Lyndsay & Camlin) – Any time will do, I don’t mind...  Dark Side of the Moon is a suite-like journey, taking the listener through seamlessly blended chapters of emotional and cognitive experiences. This journey takes us through the nature of the human experience, and explores themes of time, greed, madness, war, and mortality. Psychedelics shaped both the sound and the spirit of the album. From its use of synthesizers, ambient soundscapes, and complex messages about the human experience, the album mirrors the perceptual shifts and holotropic states of consciousness within psychedelic experiences. This album highlights alienation, control, anxiety, and existential dread, common themes that may occur within psychedelic experiences. Some songs touch upon themes of fragmentation and integration, moving toward a sense of wholeness, while others, such as this selection, express the transcendence and fear of confronting one's own mortality.

Vide Noir – Lord Huron (Camlin) – I am only an aimless soul heading into a pure black void...

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La Luna y El Lobo - Matanza (Samantha) - Le loup et l'agneau, La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure. Nous l’allons montrer tout à l’heure. Un Agneau se désaltérait, Dans le courant d’une onde pure. Un Loup survient à jeun qui cherchait aventure, Et que la faim en ces lieux attirait. Qui te rend si hardi de troubler mon breuvage? Dit cet animal plein de rage, Tu seras châtié de ta témérité. Sire, répond l’Agneau, Mais plutôt qu’elle considère Que je me vas désaltérant dans le courant, Plus de vingt pas au-dessous d’Elle. Et que par conséquent, en aucune façon, Je ne puis troubler sa boisson. Tu la troubles, reprit cette bête cruelle, Et je sais que de moi tu médis l’an passé. Comment l’aurais-je fait si je n’étais pas né? Reprit l’Agneau, je tète encor ma mère. Si ce n’est toi, c’est donc ton frère. Je n’en ai point. C’est donc quelqu’un des tiens; Car vous ne m’épargnez guère, Vous, vos bergers, et vos chiens. On me l’a dit, il faut que je me venge. Là-dessus, au fond des forêts, Le Loup l’emporte.

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Shine On You Crazy Diamond pts. VI-IX – Pink Floyd (Tori & Camlin) – Cry for the Moon...