Contrary to what you would expect, not many people have successfully blended psychedelics with music. It’s an extremely experimental fusion with far too many interpretations that not many would take seriously. However, as the documentary Music for Mushrooms will show you, someone has achieved an acceptable version of that bizarre but fascinating mix.
East Forest, aka Krishna-Trevor Oswalt (you can also alternate those two), has gone on a difficult journey to introduce his vision of music to the entire world. This wondrous trip is the basis for the documentary Music for Mushrooms, which chronicles the musician’s journey to introduce the concept to followers and specialists who are not exactly familiar with what he does. He also adds footage from his otherworldly concerts, where he subjects attendees to an experience that can be intimate, terrifying and unique.
What’s very interesting about the story is that the world Oswalt explores is so vast that he doesn’t even dare to play with the idea that he reached the end of it all. On the contrary, while the film may seem academic up to a point, Oswalt takes his own movie (he’s credited as composer, director, co-writer and co-cinematographer) as a learning experience that’ll perhaps teach him one thing or two.
Oswalt also leaves some space for the self-awareness aspect of the experience he creates for others. The documentary allows you to see how his artistic displays have affected those who were skeptical at first. Psychedelics is as non-conventional as it is as a resource, but it seems Oswalt has gotten to a point where it could be added as another layer to music that already sounds transcendental. It’s not necessary to clarify that every pseudo-science is a pseudo-science and not a law. But at least the documentary will make you curious enough to see other ways.
Music for Mushrooms does not represent a universal way of thinking. We’re light years from that. But it’s yet another piece that will convince you to seek the answers in the unknown corners of your life, whether they lie within yourself or in the study of art as abstract as psychedelic music. Oswalt, at least, makes it look cool and he seems kind enough to let us know he holds out a hand to accompany everyone to explore the bizarre side of artistic expression.
Film critic. Lover of all things horror. Member of the OFCS. RT Approved Critic.
