Sofia's Trip

Mediamatic hosts a concert that takes you on a trip.

You journey through the music of Sofia Gubaidulina and Soheil Shayesteh - from the earthly to the heavenly - performed live by an ensemble of strings, bassoon, piano and kamancheh, heightened by a low, controlled dose of psychedelic truffles. This isn't a light, happy trip. It's deep, intense, and confronting at times. That's exactly the point.

You don't go alone. In a small group of about ten people, you're guided step by step by an experienced sitter, so you know exactly what to expect - from the truffles, and from the music. Expect the experience to last around 4 to 6 hours, most intense in the first 1,5 / 2 hours.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

In a small group of about ten people, you'll receive a low, controlled "concert dose" of truffles: 5 to 8 grams, well below a normal dose of 15 to 30 grams. The tea is made by Microdose Together, specialists in truffle guidance at events. You're prepared step by step, so you know exactly what to expect - from the truffles, and from the music.

Truffles contain psilocybin and psilocin, the same active substances found in magic mushrooms. After drinking the tea, it usually takes 20 to 60 minutes before you feel the first effects; a full trip lasts about 4 to 6 hours, with the most intensity in the first hour and a half to two hours. This is exactly why we take plenty of time before the concert begins.

This is an experience for those open to something intense and introspective, not for those looking for a light, happy trip. We'll walk you through the heavier themes in Gubaidulina's music beforehand, so you're prepared.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE?

* Eat lightly beforehand: a full stomach makes the truffles less effective and can worsen nausea. * Chew the truffle thoroughly as soon as you drink the tea - this helps the effect and reduces nausea. * Don't combine truffles with alcohol or weed/hash: this makes the experience unpredictable and increases the chance of a "bad trip". * Only come if you feel physically and mentally well. Not feeling fully sure? Better to wait for a moment when you are - no one obliges you to do this. * Make sure you have nothing else planned that evening: the calmer and freer your mind, the more room there is for the experience.

ENSEMBLE

Lidy Blijdorp, cello

Ketevan Roinishvili, cello

Emma Warmelink, cello

Renée Timmer, cello

Jennifer Blom, double bass

Ana García Sánchez, double bass

Dominique Chabot, double bass

Minna Svedberg, viola

Tobias Borsboom, piano

Thomas Dulfer, bassoon

Soheil Shayesteh, kamancheh

Sofia's Trip is a production by Lonelinoise. PRSM-lab at Leiden University will research our project and the effects of truffels on contemporary music.

Music by Sofia Gubaidulina & Soheil Shayesteh

Conductor / Artistic Director - Sebastiaan Kemner

Composer, kamancheh & live electronics - Soheil Shayesteh

Bassoon - Thomas Dulfer