3 Curated Playlists for Enhanced Ketamine Experiences

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Chemical Collective or any associated parties.

Once a fringe anaesthetic, ketamine is now a powerful tool for mental health transformation.

Its ability to induce profound states of introspection and altered consciousness has made ketamine a valuable ally in treating various mental health conditions.

In recent years, ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP) has gained significant attention as a promising treatment for conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. With its rapid onset of action and long-lasting effects, ketamine offers a potential breakthrough for individuals who have not found relief through traditional therapies.

While ketamine is a potent substance, music can amplify its therapeutic effects, guiding users through their experience and fostering a deeper, more meaningful experience.

In this post, I will look at the role of music in therapeutic ketamine sessions, explore how music can enhance the therapeutic potential of ketamine, and touch upon three common qualities of ketamine session playlists. I will then share three carefully curated playlists designed to elevate your sessions, with some information on each one. Finally, I will share some final tips to help you make the most of your ketamine session.

My intention with this piece is to give you a better understanding of how music can be used to optimize your ketamine experience, give you some options for a soundtrack for your next session, and empower you to set the stage for a transformative experience.

The Role of Music in Ketamine Therapy

Music is often described as the universal language. It can have a profound impact on human emotions and consciousness. Research has shown that music alone can modulate brainwave patterns, induce specific emotional states, and facilitate deeper levels of relaxation and introspection. Studies have also demonstrated that music therapy can reduce depression and anxiety in individuals with various mental health conditions.

This is particularly interesting when we consider that it is standard practice to incorporate music in psychedelic and ketamine-assisted therapy sessions. As such, these sessions are in essence a type of music therapy, to the point that some people even consider them to be a type of drug-assisted music therapy.

Why is this so, and why does music seem to be such an integral part of the treatment?

By carefully selecting music, practitioners can create a sonic environment that enhances the therapeutic potential of ketamine. When combined with ketamine, music can serve as a co-pilot, guiding users through their experience by helping to create safe, inspiring, and reflective spaces. In the context of the psychedelic and dissociative experiences that ketamine can provoke, music can provide a sense of grounding and support, which can help reduce anxiety and promote a more positive and meaningful experience.

In sessions where patients will wear a blindfold that covers their eyes, music also gives the user something external to themselves to place their attention, serving as a point of orientation in an altered state. This combined with the choice of music, can help to regulate the intensity of psychedelic experiences, providing a sense of control and safety during periods of heightened emotion or even confusion. It can support users in processing difficult emotions and gaining new insights into themselves and the world around them by inducing specific emotional states.

Music can be used to enhance or support the therapeutic benefits of ketamine by helping to create a supportive and immersive environment. By selecting music that aligns with desired therapeutic goals, practitioners can tailor the experience to each patient. Whether it is a gentle, ambient soundscape to promote relaxation and introspection or a more energetic, rhythmic track to stimulate creativity and insight, music can play a crucial role in the ketamine experience.

Common Qualities of Ketamine Session Playlists

Whilst there is no right or wrong way to choose a playlist, there are some common musical qualities and themes that seem to support therapeutically aimed ketamine sessions. These factors can significantly influence the depth and quality of the psychedelic experience and as such, ketamine-assisted therapy playlists, including the ones we will look at in this post, tend to follow and incorporate these qualities.

Smoothness

A smooth sound with slow pacing is ideal for facilitating relaxation and introspection. Upbeat or fast-paced music can be overwhelming and may disrupt the desired state of mind. Especially in the early stages of the experience, the music should flow gently, guiding the listener into a state of tranquillity and contemplation.

Atmosphere

Ethereal, calm soundscapes can create a safe and supportive environment for exploration. These soundscapes are typically devoid of harsh or jarring elements that could induce anxiety or discomfort. Instead, music should evoke feelings of peace, wonder, and awe. By creating a soothing aural backdrop, the listener can delve deeper into their subconscious.

Flow

Whilst a few practitioners incorporate gaps and silence into their playlists, it is a more common practice for soundtracks to have a steady continuous flow without breaks between different pieces of music. This is because a seamless, unbroken soundtrack can help provide a more immersive experience. Crossfade settings or live mixing between tracks can help to maintain a continuous flow of sound, preventing disruptions and maintaining a consistent mood. This uninterrupted flow allows a more cohesive listening experience that allows the listener to fully surrender to the music and the experience.

3 Playlists For Therapeutic Ketamine Sessions

Now that we have covered common qualities of ketamine therapy session playlists, let us have a look at three soundtracks for a ketamine experience.

Playlist 1: Jon Hopkins – Music for Psychedelic Therapy

The first playlist is an album by Jon Hopkins. Hopkins is a renowned and Grammy-nominated electronic music producer and composer known for his innovative and immersive sound. His music often blends elements of ambient, techno, and classical music, creating rich and textured soundscapes that can transport listeners to otherworldly realms.

After a pair of albums that featured an intricate and euphoric sound driven by beats, Immunity and Singularity, Hopkins moved into a new direction with Music for Psychedelic Therapy. For this album, he took inspiration from experiences with meditation, the psychedelic DMT, and an expedition to remote caves in Ecuador. This resulted in a beatless, flowing album that incorporates elements of drone, ambient and classical music, and is merged with sounds of nature.

Released in 2021, this is an album that was created for the purpose the title states and was crafted to provide a safe and supportive sonic environment for those exploring altered states of consciousness. Ketamine sessions were even part of Hopkins’ creative process for the album, as he made sure it was suited for sessions like those used in ketamine-assisted therapy. 

Maybe three months before mastering, when the album was starting to form as a complete thing, I would have a ketamine session and just lie there and return with notes on what was good and what was not good. It was my mind exploring tool. I almost called the album ‘Music for Ketamine Therapy’, which would be getting ridiculously niche, but for me that’s what it’s best suited for.
– Jon Hopkins in The Independent

The album’s ambient and electronic soundscapes are characterised by their spaciousness and meditative quality. Hopkins’ use of texture and atmosphere helps to create a sense of weightlessness and tranquility and allows listeners to delve into the depths of their consciousness. It has an ethereal flow that guides the listener on a gentle, uninterrupted journey, fostering a sense of peace and wonder.

Jon Hopkins’ Music for Psychedelic Therapy is a testament to Hopkins’ commitment to creating music that can enhance consciousness and promote healing. Crafted to provide an immersive and introspective listening experience, this album is a perfect companion for a deep, inner experience, offering a serene and ethereal soundscape that can transport listeners to otherworldly realms.

Whether you are a seasoned psychedelic explorer or a newcomer to the world of psychedelics, Music for Psychedelic Therapy is a powerful tool for self-discovery and healing.

You can listen to Music for Psychedelic Therapy on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major streaming platforms.

Playlist 2: Held By Sound – Before Thought

Held By Sound is a project by electronic music producer Shahar Amit. For this project, Amit, who has a background in the psychedelic music scene, shifted his focus from dancefloor-oriented music to immersive soundscapes designed to support more inward-focused psychedelic experiences, like those seen in the psychedelic and ketamine-assisted therapy clinics.

Before Thought is a first-of-its-kind modular psychedelic therapy album offering a personalised listening experience. Described as a “choose your own adventure” style album, different flavours can selected for different phases of the album.

To do this, Amit divided the album into seven phases, each designed to support a specific stage of the psychedelic experience. The seven phases are: Pre onset, Onset 1, Onset 2, Peak 1, Peak 2, Return 1, and Final return.

For each of these seven phases, one of four distinct “flavours” of music can be selected. The four flavours are: stillness, expansive, dark, and bittersweet.

This brings a customisable aspect to the album, and the flavours chosen for the phases of the session can be based on the aims, intentions, and current trajectory. These flavours can be selected beforehand but also changed during the session. 

For example, if someone wants to explore shadow work, they may choose the dark flavour for the peaks of the session. However, if it turns out in the session that they would be better served by a sense of grounding from the soundtrack, the stillness flavour could be selected.

By combining different flavours at different phases, listeners can select different paths through the album, creating a personalised and tailored experience. The seamless transitions between tracks ensure a smooth and uninterrupted experience, allowing the listener to fully immerse themselves in the music.

Whether you are a seasoned psychedelic explorer or a newcomer to the world of psychedelics, Before Thought can be a valuable tool for self-discovery and spiritual growth. Before Thought provides a continuous and evolving sonic backdrop from the initial ascent to the peak of the experience and the subsequent descent. By providing a safe and supportive sonic environment, this album can enhance the therapeutic benefits of psychedelic experiences and help you connect with your deeper self.

If you are interested in using Before Thought as a soundtrack and are curious how it works, the best thing to do is check out the website and play around to familiarise yourself. You need to sign up for an account but it is entirely free to use.

You can find Before Thought on the Held By Sound website. 

Playlist 3: PRATI – Ketamine: Sublingual Sessions 1 – St Frequency

The Sublingual Sessions is a series of Spotify playlists from PRATI (Psychedelic Research and Training Institute) designed to enhance and support the transformative potential of oral or sublingual ketamine experiences. Curated by psychedelic therapists, artists, and musicians, these playlists offer a diverse range of soundscapes that can transport listeners to otherworldly realms. The series showcases a diverse range of musical styles and approaches, from ambient and electronic to experimental and avant-garde.

We showcase a range of artistic expressions to explore the diverse realms of ketamine space and the human experience—the sublime, the strange, and the vastness in between.
– Psychedelic Research and Training Institute, The Sublingual Sessions

The first instalment of the series, Sublingual Sessions 1, is curated by ST Frequency, a Colorado-based DJ, musician, and KAP therapist. With a deep understanding of the power of music to induce altered states of consciousness, ST Frequency has crafted this two-hour journey through immersive, spacious, and subterranean soundscapes.

The tracks in Sublingual Sessions 1 are carefully sequenced to create a seamless and evolving listening experience and the playlist features a blend of electronica and neoclassical music, creating a captivating and evocative listening experience. The music’s grounding and melodic qualities are there to help soothe the mind and body, while the immersive nature of the soundscapes aims to transport listeners to a state of deep relaxation and introspection. 

PRATI recommends using a crossfade setting of 9 seconds to create a seamless and uninterrupted listening experience.

You can listen to Sublingual Sessions 1 on Spotify and find the series on the PRATI website

Tips for a Deeper Experience

Now that you are equipped with some curated playlists to enhance your ketamine sessions, here are a few additional tips to optimise your experience. I will look at three areas: pre- and post-session music, environment and setup, and crossfade and continuous play.

Pre- and Post-Session Music

To optimise your ketamine experience, consider incorporating pre- and post-session music into your routine.

Pre-Session Music: Before diving into your main playlist, begin with some calming music. This can help to set the stage for your experience, easing you into a relaxed and receptive state of mind. Soft, ambient music or nature sounds can be particularly effective.

Post-Session Music: After your ketamine session, choose grounding music to gently ease you back into everyday consciousness. This can be soothing instrumental music, gentle vocals, or nature sounds. Music with positive affirmation-like lyrics can also be good at this stage.The music should help to anchor you to the present moment and promote a sense of peace and well-being.

Environment and Setup

To fully immerse yourself in the music and enhance your ketamine experience, it is key to create a comfortable and conducive listening environment. Here are a few tips:

• Comfortable Space: Find a quiet, private space where you will not be disturbed. Make sure the room is comfortable and free of distractions.
• Quality Headphones: Invest in a good pair of headphones to isolate yourself from external noise and provide a more immersive listening experience.
• Dimmed Lighting: Soft, ambient lighting can help to create a calming atmosphere and reduce eye strain.
• Comfortable Space or Seating: Choose a comfortable space to lie down, or a snug chair or cushion to relax in.

By following these simple tips, you can create an optimal listening environment that will allow you to fully appreciate the music and deepen your psychedelic experience.

Crossfade and Continuous Play

It can be helpful to maintain a continuous and uninterrupted flow of music to maximise the therapeutic benefits of your ketamine session. To achieve this, you can use crossfade settings on your music player. Crossfades allow for smooth transitions between tracks, preventing any sudden breaks or disruptions in the sound.

By letting the playlist play uninterrupted, you can fully immerse yourself in the music and allow it to guide your experience. This uninterrupted flow can help to deepen your experience and promote a more profound sense of relaxation and introspection.

Final Thoughts

When combined with ketamine, music can create a powerful synergy that promotes healing, introspection, and spiritual growth.

The curated playlists we have explored in this post offer a diverse range of soundscapes to support different stages of the ketamine experience. From the immersive and introspective to the grounding and restorative, these playlists can help you navigate the depths of your mind and emerge with renewed clarity and insight.

I encourage you to experiment with these playlists and discover which ones resonate most with you. By consciously selecting music that aligns with your intentions, you can create a personalised and transformative experience. And if you are looking for music for your psilocybin experience, check out our article here: 5 Playlists for Powerful Psilocybin Journeys.

If you would like more music and psychedelic session resources straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter here.

John Robertson | Community Blogger at Chemical Collective | mapsofthemind.com

John is one of our community bloggers here at Chemical Collective. If you’re interested in joining our blogging team and getting paid to write about subjects you’re passionate about, please reach out to David via email at blog@chemical-collective.com