John Miller
Mushroom music is a unique concept that involves creating music from mushrooms. It is not just playing music for mushrooms, but rather using their electrical fluctuations and biorhythms to generate sounds through synthesizers or computer software. This process, known as biodata sonification, has been explored by researchers like MycoLyco and musicians like the Octopus Project. The result is an ambient, psychedelic, and collaborative experience that offers a new way to connect with nature. Mushroom music might not have distinct rhythms or melodies, but it provides an intriguing auditory experience, sparking curiosity and inspiring artists to explore this fusion of nature and technology.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of music | Ambient, crazy sounding, minimal techno, bass music, psy trance, interstitial music, alien-like, trippy |
| Process | Biodata sonification, passing a small current through mushrooms, picking up on their electrical resistance, converting variations in resistance into signals that direct the synthesizer's rhythm, pitch, timbre and effects parameters |
| Equipment | Eurorack modular synthesizer, MIDI biodata sonification device |
| Artists | Kalos, Teresa Egbert, John Cage, Mort Garson, The Octopus Project (Yvonne Lambert, Josh Lambert, Toto Miranda, and Mari Rubio) |
| Platforms | TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit |
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What You'll Learn
How to create music from mushrooms
Creating music from mushrooms is a unique and intriguing process that involves exploring the musicality of these fungi. Here are the steps to create music from mushrooms:
Step 1: Understanding Mushroom Music
Mushroom music is an experimental form of creating sounds and compositions by using mushrooms as a source of biorhythmic data. This process often involves connecting sensors to mushrooms to capture their electrical fluctuations, which are then translated into musical notes or sounds.
Step 2: Choosing the Right Mushrooms
The type of mushrooms used can vary, but some popular choices include pink oyster mushrooms and culinary-grade mushrooms. Wild mushrooms or those sourced from local mycological societies or markets can also be used. It's important to ensure that the mushrooms are safe to work with and are not toxic.
Step 3: Equipment and Setup
To create mushroom music, you'll need a MIDI biodata sonification device or a similar setup. This device measures the electrical fluctuations or biorhythms of the mushrooms through sensors attached directly to them. The data collected is then translated into MIDI notes or used to control a synthesizer's parameters, including rhythm, pitch, timbre, and effects.
Step 4: Data Collection and Translation
With the sensors attached to the mushrooms, the electrical resistance or biorhythmic data is captured and converted into musical information. This can involve passing a small electrical current through the mushrooms to measure their electrical resistance, as mentioned by the researcher MycoLyco.
Step 5: Composing and Performing
Once the data is translated into musical notes or parameters, it can be played through a synthesizer or computer software. This is where the "collaboration" between the musician and the mushroom takes place. The musician might choose to follow the mushroom's lead, allowing it to dictate the performance and create a unique, ambient soundscape.
Step 6: Experiment and Explore
Creating music with mushrooms is a highly experimental process, and each mushroom species may offer different results. It's important to approach this process with an open mind and a willingness to explore. As mentioned by musician Josh from the Octopus Project, "ideas or sounds or rhythms that we wouldn't necessarily have come up with on our own come out, and so it feels kind of exciting every time."
By following these steps and embracing the unpredictable nature of mushroom music, you can create captivating and otherworldly compositions that showcase the hidden musical talents of fungi.
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Mushroom music as ambient music
Mushroom music is an experimental form of music that uses mushrooms to create sounds. It is a form of ambient music that can be used for relaxation or as a form of art. The process involves using a MIDI biodata sonification device to measure electrical fluctuations through sensors attached to mushrooms. These electrical fluctuations are then translated into MIDI notes, which can be played by a synthesizer or computer software to create music. This process is known as biodata sonification, where the biorhythms of organisms are turned into sounds.
One example of mushroom music is the work of MycoLyco, who uses pink oyster mushrooms to play a Eurorack modular synthesizer. MycoLyco's music has been described as "mushroomcore", good for listeners who want to "zen out". Similarly, Kalos, a mycology TikToker, creates music using cordyceps mushrooms and has even collaborated with celebrity artists like SZA.
The Austin electronic group, The Octopus Project, has also experimented with mushroom music. They hosted a livestream benefit concert for the Central Texas Mycological Society, featuring music and visuals "played" by mushrooms. The band members have expressed that creating music with mushrooms feels like a true collaboration, allowing the mushroom to dictate the performance and resulting in exciting and unexpected sounds.
Mushroom music can be seen as a way to connect with nature, providing a visual and audio representation of the life within mushrooms. It opens up new possibilities for musicians to explore and create unique sounds, embracing the musicality of mushrooms. While the resulting music may be an acquired taste, lacking distinct rhythm or melody, it offers a psychedelic experience and a form of communication from mushrooms that fascinates and enthralls listeners.
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The experience of performing mushroom music
This process of mushroom music-making was showcased by the Austin electronic group, The Octopus Project. The band members attached sensors to mushrooms, which measured and translated the electrical fluctuations into MIDI notes played by a synthesizer. This method, known as biodata sonification, allows the mushrooms to dictate the performance, creating a sense of unpredictability and excitement for the musicians.
Performing mushroom music can lead to a heightened sense of connection with nature. As musician Josh from The Octopus Project describes, it provides "a visual and audio representation" of the life within the natural world, fostering a deeper sense of connection and awareness. This experience can be both exciting and frustrating for musicians as they navigate the unknown territory of mushroom collaboration.
Mushroom music often lacks traditional musical structures such as rhythm and melody, resulting in an acquired taste. MycoLyco, a researcher and musician, describes their "mushroomcore" music as enthralling, psychedelic, and ideal for "zenning out". The experience of performing mushroom music involves surrendering to the unpredictable nature of the mushrooms, embracing the unknown, and allowing the mushrooms to guide the creative process.
The process of creating mushroom music has also been explored by TikToker Kalos, who embraces the unique sounds of mushrooms through biodata sonification. Kalos collaborates with other mushroom enthusiasts, such as Teresa Egbert, to create art that celebrates the electrical signals and musical communication of mushrooms. The experience of performing mushroom music involves a blend of technology and nature, resulting in a form of expression that is both intriguing and captivating.
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The visual and audio representation of mushrooms
The process of creating music from mushrooms involves attaching sensors to these fungi, capturing their electrical fluctuations, and converting them into MIDI notes that can be played by a synthesizer or computer software. This method of sonification opens up a whole new world of musical possibilities, allowing mushrooms to dictate the direction of a performance. The resulting sounds can range from ambient to wildly experimental, offering a unique and unpredictable auditory experience.
While the auditory aspect of mushrooms has captured the imagination of musicians, the visual representation of mushrooms is equally fascinating. The Drosophila mushroom body, for instance, is a well-studied olfactory learning centre that also receives visual input, although its exact function remains unknown. Research in this area continues to explore the visual coding within the mushroom body and its potential significance.
Furthermore, the impact of mushrooms on human consciousness and sensory perception cannot be overlooked. Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, has been shown to alter brain activity and induce hallucinations. These psychedelic experiences can lead to synaesthesia, where the senses blend, resulting in tasting colours, feeling sounds, and seeing smells. Thus, mushrooms not only produce music but also influence the way we perceive and interact with our senses, creating a multifaceted visual and audio representation.
In conclusion, the visual and audio representation of mushrooms encompasses both the natural sounds produced by these fungi and the way they inspire and shape our artistic expressions. Mushrooms have the power to connect us more deeply to the natural world, offering new avenues for exploration in music, science, and our understanding of consciousness.
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The taste for mushroom music
Mushroom music is created through a process called biodata sonification, where the biorhythms of organisms are translated into audible sounds. This method utilizes technology to detect and convert the electrical resistance of mushrooms into signals that can control various musical aspects such as rhythm, pitch, timbre, and effects. The result is an otherworldly composition that some describe as similar to the interstitial music from *The Twilight Zone* or an attempt by mushrooms to communicate with aliens.
One notable example of mushroom music is the work of MycoLyco, who has gained popularity for their creative approach to synthesizing sounds from mushrooms. MycoLyco employs a Eurorack modular synthesizer, which consists of separate modules with different functions, allowing the mushrooms to "play" and create their unique tunes. The result is an acquired taste, lacking distinct rhythms or melodies but offering a psychedelic and enthralling listening experience.
The process of creating mushroom music is not just about the final auditory product but also the journey and collaboration with nature. Musicians and enthusiasts find excitement in the unpredictability of the compositions, as the mushrooms dictate the performance's direction. It provides a sense of true collaboration, where the musicians surrender control and embrace the unknown, often resulting in unexpected and exciting rhythms, sounds, and ideas.
The appeal of mushroom music extends beyond the auditory experience, offering a deeper connection with nature. As mushrooms are a separate biological kingdom, more closely related to humans than plants, their musical expressions create a visual and audio representation of life. This unique form of communication inspires a sense of oneness with the natural world, fostering a feeling of being connected to something larger than oneself.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom music is music that is created by translating the electrical fluctuations of mushrooms into MIDI notes, which are then played by a synthesizer or computer software.
This can be done using a MIDI biodata sonification device, which uses sensors to measure the electrical fluctuations of mushrooms. The data is then translated into MIDI notes, which can be played by a synthesizer or computer software.
Mushroom music has been described as having an "acquired taste". It often lacks rhythm or melody and has been compared to interstitial music from *The Twilight Zone* or an attempt to communicate with aliens on a psychedelic frequency. However, some people find it enthralling and good for "zenning out".
Mushroom music is created by musicians and researchers such as MycoLyco, the Octopus Project, and Kalos, who is a mycology TikToker.
