Music Guide for Magic Mushroom Trips

Last updated: March 2026
This guide is regularly updated with the latest playlists and insights.

Why is music important during a psychedelic journey?

Music plays a fundamental role in psychedelic experiences. In shamanic traditions, singing songs and playing instruments during ceremony is closely tied to journeying alongside sacred plants such as ayahuasca, psilocybin-containing mushrooms and peyote. Research from Kaelen et al. (2018, Imperial College London) demonstrated that music significantly influences the emotional depth of psychedelic experiences.

Experienced psychonauts, therapists and shamans agree: music helps create a safe, supportive environment. It gives you something to focus on when the journey becomes intense, similar to your own breathing. The right soundtrack can help you surrender to the experience with trust and ease.

How to choose the best music for your mushroom trip

Choosing music for a psychedelic experience is different from putting together a daily playlist. What you normally enjoy might have entirely the wrong feel during a trip. Prepare several playlists so you can switch if needed, and ideally have a trip sitter who can manage the music for you.

Experts in psychedelic guidance recommend choosing music without lyrics, or music with vocals in a language you do not understand. Lyrics can carry you in a direction that does not match your own intention. To get the most from your journey, you want to follow your own flow.

Music for each phase of your journey

A mushroom trip unfolds in recognisable phases, and the music you choose can optimally accompany each one. Here is an overview:

The onset (30-60 minutes)

After ingestion, it typically takes 30 to 60 minutes for the first effects to appear. Music during this phase should ideally be calm, supportive and gradually building. Think soft ambient, gentle acoustic sounds or nature recordings that help you relax and open up to the experience. Also read our guide on preparing for a safe trip for more tips.

The peak (1-3 hours)

During the peak, so much is happening in your consciousness that music becomes almost secondary. Yet the right accompaniment is crucial. Choose slow, deep, meditative sounds without lyrics. Classical music, drone and deep ambient work excellently here. The music should flow like a gentle current alongside your inner experience.

The return (come-down: 2-4 hours)

During this phase, you slowly return from your journey as if waking from a deep meditation. The music can now become more familiar. Lyrical pieces feel welcome again. Choose positive, inspirational music that helps you gently integrate the experience. This is also the time for reflection and gratitude.

Set and setting: more than just music

Music is just one component of 'set and setting', a concept originally introduced by Timothy Leary. 'Set' refers to your mindset: your mood, expectations and intentions. 'Setting' is the physical and social environment in which you have the experience.

An optimal setting for a psychedelic journey includes:

• A safe, familiar space where you feel comfortable
• Comfortable furnishings such as cushions, blankets and a mattress
• Dimmed lighting or candlelight for a warm atmosphere
• A sober trip sitter who is available if you need support
• No obligations for the rest of the day and preferably the following day as well

Combining the right music with a thoughtful setting can make the difference between an overwhelming and a deeply meaningful experience. Interested in growing your own mushrooms? Browse our magic mushroom grow kits.

Recommended playlists for your mushroom trip

A good playlist is preferably the same length as your journey (4-6 hours) and reflects the different phases. Listen through your chosen list beforehand to avoid surprises.

Sacred Knowledge, William A. Richards (6 hr 6 min)

Dr. Richards, a researcher at Johns Hopkins in experimental psilocybin treatment, compiled this playlist based on years of clinical research. Surprisingly, it consists mostly of classical music pieces, ending with some tracks by The Beatles, Enya and Louis Armstrong. Scientifically, this is considered one of the most suitable playlists during a journey.

Find it here on Spotify.

Psychedelic Therapy Playlist, Mendel Kaelen (5 hr 30 min + 5 hr 22 min)

Neuroscientist and music enthusiast Mendel Kaelen compiled this two-part playlist: ambient, dreamy, calm, with occasional vocals and neo-classical pieces. If you are looking for non-distracting accompaniment for your journey, this is an excellent choice.

Link part 1: here on Spotify (5 hr 30 min)

Link part 2: here on Spotify (5 hr 22 min)

East Forest - Music for Mushrooms (8 hr 39 min)

Artist East Forest created this playlist specifically for those who wish to experience their trip as a ritual. With abundant nature sounds and dreamy, ambient tones, you will feel as though you have entered a blissful, meditative state.

Link: here on Spotify

More playlists to explore

If none of the above suits your taste, there are countless options on Spotify and YouTube. Ensure your music is advertisement-free; an advert in the middle of your journey is the last thing you want.

What you choose depends entirely on your personal preference. Some people prefer psytrance or techno, others something more tribal and shamanic. There is no right or wrong. Here are some additional recommendations:

• Calm, soothing, Celtic, dreamy (3 hr 4 min)
• Modern shamanic, tribal, drums (2 hr 28 min)
• Deep shamanic drums (3 hr 3 min)

Want to learn more about the mushrooms themselves? Read our article on mushrooms vs. magic truffles or discover how to make mushroom chocolates.

Music as an integration tool

The value of music does not stop when the trip is over. Many experienced travellers listen back to the same music in the days following their journey. This can help you re-access the insights and emotions you experienced, aiding their integration into daily life.

Consider putting together a special 'integration playlist' featuring the pieces that moved you most. This becomes a personal anchor you can return to whenever you wish to reconnect with that state of openness.

Also read about the history of mushrooms and truffles for more context on the ceremonial use of these sacred plants.

Last updated: March 2026 | Next Level Smart