East Forest

Music To Live To

In this episode, host Damian Chaparro interviews ⁠East Forest⁠, an artist known for his nature-infused melodies and collaborations with Ram Dass and Krishna Das. East Forest discusses his psychedelic experiences, the role of community in his journey, and his unique improvisational live performances. He reflects on the influence of indigenous ceremonies on his art and reveals his documentary, "⁠Music for Mushrooms⁠," on tour now.

Trevor Oswalt, a man, poses in the forest for a portrait
Recent Podcasts
Rites Of Passage
Nutrition & Intuition
Nourishing Inside-Out
Aotearoa's Wisdom Traditions

Show Notes

HIGHLIGHTS

Introduction to East Forest (00:10 - 11:12)

  • East Forest collaborates with Ram Das, Trevor Hall, Krishna Das, and Mc Yogi
  • East Forest uses music to guide himself and others into shamanic states
  • East Forest's music genre is described as 'music for the sacred' or 'music for special moments of life'
  • The project emerged in 2008 from work with psilocybin and guiding people with music

Psychedelics and Spirituality (11:12 - 22:45)

  • East Forest discusses his early experiences with psychedelics and lack of spiritual background
  • Psilocybin experiences led to exploration of spirituality and music as a path
  • East Forest's approach to dosage and harm reduction in psychedelic experiences
  • The value of community and integration in psychedelic journeys

Creative Process and Live Performance (22:45 - 31:29)

  • East Forest describes his creative process in both studio and live settings
  • Discussion on the difference between studio recordings and live ceremony music
  • East Forest's work with Mikey Siegel on the group flow project, incorporating biofeedback into music
  • The importance of authenticity and playing roles in public performances ‍
  • Collaboration with Ram Dass and ongoing partnership with Love Serve Remember Foundation
  • Terrence McKenna and the Psychedelic Salon podcast as early educational influences
  • Direct experiences with indigenous ceremonies and nature as teachers
  • The importance of felt experiences in understanding spiritual concepts

Current Projects and Future Plans (40:12 - 48:46)

  • East Forest discusses his documentary 'Music for Mushrooms'
  • The documentary has been in production for two and a half years and is nearing completion
  • Discussion on balancing work, creativity, and personal lifeEast Forest

CONNECT WITH EAST FOREST:

DISCLAIMER:

This podcast is for informational purposes only and not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician.  

Back to podcasts
Back to podcasts