Theory Therapy 56: bad lsd trips
Psychedelic meditations.
For anyone not yet familiar, bad lsd trips is a collaboration between artists doris dana and Domingo Castillo. Last year, they released an album on enmossed that mixes early industrial, dark ambient and drone into shape-shifting structures. It's quickly become a personal favourite.
Their Theory Therapy mix is a special one. Like their music, it's refreshingly unpredictable and tonally distinctive – a seemingly disparate collage of hums and sounds that will firmly lodge itself into your brain. Enjoy the trip.
How are you today?
dd: All's well on my end! I'm just gearing up for tomorrow's trip to North Carolina, where I'll be playing a show on Friday the 13th. I’m excited about it, and a change of scenery and weather is eagerly anticipated – Miami is still quite hot and humid.
domi: I’m alright, just moved to Berlin and readjusting to something I hope to be a bit more longterm after being itinerant between Miami/New York and Portland over the past six months.
What was the last song you listened to?
dd: ‘Basic’ by Hyperdawn
domi: Cocteau Twins, ‘Seekers Who Are Lovers’ (Otherness EP)
Where is your favourite place to listen to music?
dd: Recently, my cherished spot for music appreciation involves taking a morning hike through a preservation area near Old Cutler. There's a unique magic to immersing oneself in music amidst nature.
domi: The past few years it's actually been at work, which primarily has been prepping artwork for exhibition at museums or blue chip galleries. That means that sometimes I’m painting a wall for 8 hours, or packing artwork for two days, so it’s a moment when I could do repetitive labor while deeply engaging with someone’s discography or year’s worth of someone’s radio broadcast.
What's your favorite release you've listened to in the last while?
dd: Glass Lit Dream by Dawuna, it hits hard.
domi: Dregs album 🖤❤️
What's a recent discovery you've both made?
dd: In the realm of our music, I would argue that throughout our recording journey this year, we've uncovered a mode of communication that surpasses verbal expression. Freed from the constraints of proximity, our method has progressed from "conventional" studio recording sessions on tape to the sharing of musical stems. Through this approach, we've developed an intimate understanding of each other's creative headspace. So, in my view, this modus operandi stands as the most profound discovery we've collectively made throughout the year. What are your thoughts, Domi?
domi: musically, yes things changed and came at a time when I moved from having a physical studio to just relying on my laptop. It was cool, the Bluetung remix we did really did jump start a new way of working simply due to the fact that we had to deal with stems and make something work – so for me, slowly learning how to engage with and further develop our sound through this process has been rewarding.
How did you both meet?
dd: Given our professional backgrounds, Domi and I have discovered our worlds intersecting in intriguing ways over time. He is an artist, and I am a former "museum professional" who was primarily involved in publications. Our first substantial conversation took place during an art museum party.
It's funny how you can regularly cross paths with people, yet it often takes a special occasion for a meaningful conversation to unfold. In our case, that chance encounter led to a deepening friendship. Fast forward a few months to the unexpected events of a pandemic, and there we were, spending an entire year sonically escaping the madness of the world. Life has a curious way of weaving connections, doesn't it?
domi: Yeah, it was a christmas party for the museum just before the start of the lockdown but what was really meaningful for me is that at one point during lockdown we started hanging out and sharing records with each other while sipping endless cups of tea and talking for hours. It was during this time that we both shared music we had done a decade earlier and that time together really laid the foundation for the moment we just decided to start recording music again.
Can you tell us a little about the mix? What were you feeling when you made it?
dd: In terms of the mix, we allowed our recording approach to be reflected in the way we curated this blend. Each track elicits an emotive response from the other person, contributing to the mood established by the preceding one – does that make sense? Ha. I never knew which track Domi was going to add, but it was always thrilling to discover a way to respond in a genuine yet thoughtful manner.
domi: I dj regularly under another few pseudonyms and I really enjoy the b2b process of finding an ebb and flow with someone. This mix was special because like monica said we just implemented our current recording process so sometimes a response was immediate and other times it would take weeks but at the end it really feels like a flurry of emotions.
Where did you record the mix?
dd/domi: Between Miami and New York over the summer
Where would you recommend listening to it?
dd: Honestly, I think this mix lends itself to taking it on a walk; a flight, a ride, or a trip… I also really enjoy listening to music in the car, there is something very cathartic about it.
domi: In transit, at home on k, starting your morning routine, in a tent coming down on lsd.
Are there any tracks you’ve used in the mix that are special or significant to you?
dd: from a very personal standpoint, I would say that ‘tropical depression’ and ‘hyperreality’ are significant to me – they are both reflective of different moments in my life.
domi: James K’s ‘My Sorrow Is Luminous’, feels like a sun going supernova the way it encapsulates the complexity of emotion.
Theory Therapy mixes are about sharing the music that you personally find therapeutic, cathartic, or restorative. What does that mean for you?
dd: In reflecting on our approach to creating this mix, there's nothing more gratifying than exchanging music and receiving responses to what you share. Moreover, there's a profound beauty in employing this method to craft a musical journey for others to experience. We are grateful for the space you provided us with to create this.
domi: This mix was something that allowed us to share a process that we routinely engage in for both cathartic and restorative reasons; again it’s the foundation of our creative process. Being able to deeply listen to the songs that move a close friend and sit with it. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to share that.
Is there a particular album or piece of music that you find yourself returning to for similar reasons?
dd: There is a soundtrack that I have been listening to every week for about 7-8 years, Ascenseur pour l'échafaud by Miles Davis. Some people go to church on Sunday, I listen to this album instead… it’s a weirdly comforting one for me.
domi: Elysia Crampton Chuquimia’s American Drift has been it for almost ten years now. It’s an album that speaks to me in an embodied language.
Tell us something exciting that's coming up in your life, music or otherwise.
dd: I’m pretty stoked about the show I mentioned earlier. I've been in touch with Glyn Maier and Secret Boyfriend for a few years, and finally, I'll have the opportunity to meet them and perform alongside them. Additionally, I'm excited about a couple of collaborative sets that are coming up soon.
domi: I just moved to another country and I'm looking forward to experiencing life outside of the American pressure cooker called endless stress and anxiety.
