Gizma: Psy Trance, Psychedelic Research with MAPS and Finding Inspiration in your Work and Culture

In this episode, Greg sits down for a chat with Psy Trance artist and research physician Gizma. Gizma is a native Mexican who grew up both there and here in San Francisco, and continues to travel between the two places but is now based here in SF. First, Gizma talks about receiving her M.D. from the University of Michoacan in 2009, and how she comes from a family of doctors. She also talks about coming back to San Francisco to come to Pyramind in 2012 because of her passion for music and love for this city. Then, they give Gizma's song "The Opening" a listen, and Gizma talks about the instructors at Pyramind that helped her learn the techniques in Apple's Logic that let her create the track

Greg then asks Gizma about the influences that went into this track, and how her work as a research Physician influences the music she makes, and Gizma talks about the work she does with a company called MAPS. Maps is an organization dedicated to picking up where the research into the therapeutic and medical potential of psychedelic substances fell off in the late 60's due to the beginning of the war on drugs. Gizma then talks about how one of the biggest things that drew her to MAPS was being an indigenous Mexican because psychedelic medicine is a big part of that culture and that all of this has inspired the music she makes. They then talk about the field of music-assisted therapy in neuroscience and how that's something Gizma is interested in branching into in the future.

Greg then asks Gizma about her sound design process when making music, and she talks about all the plugins and techniques that are staples of producing Psy-Trance music and how she uses them creatively, as well as how she likes to sit down and start a track, usually by choosing a vocal or spoken word sample and making the kick and bass. Greg then asks Gizma where her artist name came from, and she explains that it was the name of her imaginary friend as a child that would often act as a cautionary and protective voice in her mind. They then get into talking about the record labels that Gizma has worked with over the years, including Spun Records, and Antu Records where she mostly releases music now. They also talk about working with other artists on the label including on the next track they listen to, "Cognitive Liberty" in collaboration with Psy Trance artist Ital. Gizma talks about the inspiration for the song, as well as the collaboration process that went into making the track.

Greg then asks Gizma about the Psy-Trance scene in Mexico, and how it's no longer the underground thing it was back in 2003 when she started going to events there, and it's now a great thing that its much more visible and available for the people in the scene. Greg then asks Gizma about how the psychedelic medicine of her culture influences her work and music, and Gizma talks about what she learned from her family, especially her grandparents. She also talks about how applying that knowledge in her medical practice is important, because she feels that often times western medical practice can forget to take into account the context of the people that need treatment.

They then talk about the Pyramind live stream Gizma would do later that afternoon, as well as her other upcoming shows including Psychedelic Picninc, and how she has a few new pieces of music she's working on. Then, they close out the episode by listening to the track "Ainu" by Gizma and Amplify, which was inspired by the Aboriginal Ainu people of Japan.

Check out Gizma at https://gizma44.wixsite.com/gizmamusic

Listen to the songs in this episode at https://www.beatport.com/artist/gizma/767546

Check out Antu Records at http://www.anturecords.com

Check out MAPS at https://maps.org

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices