This idea came from another thread about the "conscious mind."

I'm curious to hear of everyone's experience of producing while drunk, high, etc. I've never done either, but I've always been curious.  It seems like a few popular artists do, but I'm not sure if that's just the image they portray, rather than reality.

What do you think of it and what results have you got from any kind of mind-alternating substance? (weed, alcohol, acid, etc.)

I'm not really advocating the use of drugs or alcohol but I will share my experience under the influence of various substance I admit to have taken that have helped me create better music imo... Like I said though, none of this is meant to convince anyone that taking drugs is or is not harmful, but I have benefitted in a few different ways musically from experimenting with mind altering yadda yadda..

Weed: We've all been to college right?? Where I went to school it was practically unavoidable, and I will admit to smoking more than I actually would like to admit to anybody I know personally. For me, the stuff opened up a mental gateway and helped me make killer compositions. My workflow was off the hook, as long as I was comfortable, and ALONE (the most important factor for me) I was able to crank out probably my best work musically, and I was less hesitant in general. The stuff did make me more anxious than a turkey on thanksgiving sometimes, but man did it help my ears hear things in such detail that I could never hear totally sober.

Alcohol: I've never made music piss drunk (which rarely happens to begin with because I may be one of the few people to despise liquor) but after enjoying a few beers, the buzz I get sort of helps me relax and worry less about editing and focus on a smooth workflow. And if I have been working on something for a few hours, having a few drinks helps reset my ears a little bit and removes some clutter from my ADD plagued mind.

Adderall: I'm prescribed the stuff, taking it helps me function like I should if I wasn't cursed with ADHD. There have been some instances where I've had some pills stockpiled up from past scripts and took double to triple my prescribed dosage (For me that number was around 50-60 mg, sounds like a lot but it really isn't). You will sit down, and god damn you will be the most productive you have ever been in your life. My problem with abusing adderall for musical purposes (which I don't usually do and really don't recommend doing often in general) is that it will make you work almost too hard, and chances are you will ignore any other personal relationships and responsibilities for as long as the medicine is in effect that day

Coffee: (Yes this is a drug, is it even a debate anymore? lol)  obvious things we all probably know already aside... When working on music, the 20 minutes of slight euphoria I get is useful when I want to tackle a quick job in my DAW. Thats about it, coffee doesn't really have much of an effect on me anymore (besides causing me to go a night without sleep If I have it after dinner)

My 2 cents

I'm a medical marijuana success story. 

Don't take other people's work flow as your way.

But, there's no harm in experimenting. Each substance does alter your natural state chemically, don't let any one tell you other wise.

Personally, i find that i do my best when ever i am sober. I prefer to use my skills and go as far as i can take them.

To me the whole drug things, is just chemical entertainment. Yea you can "open up" in different ways and gain different perspectives, but at least for me and my philosophy, you can be so much better if you actually push yourself when sober.

This are easier to retain, and you won't have to spend money that could be spent else where. But if you're gonna do it any ways, and like i said, there's no harm in trying it out. Just be aware of doing it to much (including doing music sober!!!!)

I enjoy producing under the influence, but I make sure to keep myself at a good buzz.

Weed: It definitely helps all of us hear better and it can give you a very fresh perspective on your project, as if you havent heard it for weeks sometimes.  Or, if you're creating something new, it gets the creative juices flowing nicely but you have to catch yourself when you get too obsessed over one small detail, which I tend to do when I've been going at it for more than 30-45 minutes.  Some of my best ideas have come to me while high, BUT you have to make sure you dont RELY ON IT to where you can only be creative when you smoke.  Producing sober has great advantages.

Shrooms:  I had a good time producing while tripping.  No, you dont see unicorns or anything.  It simply gives you another perspective. 

Alcohol:  I like to make a strong mixed drink when I sit down to produce sometimes (just one).  It relieves the tension in my body and mind and allows things to flow more freely (as with the other substances I mentioned)

Coffee: It's a stimulant and calling it a drug implies that it harms your body like the other drugs.  I enjoy 2 cups of coffee a day and it really picks me up and gets my brain parts working well.

Adderall:  You will be extremely productive but Adderall has really bad side effects for long term use.  Say goodbye to your eyesight among other things and it makes your concentration worse when you're not on it.  ADHD is a funny thing because you can overcome it and its not something that you need pills for.  Just meditate.

Showering  :  Not a drug but it stimulates the creative parts of your brain and if you have ever noticed that you feel creative after getting out the shower, now you know why.

So I'll take a shower, make some coffee, take a couple hits from the peace pipe, and let my imagination take over 

I am starting to think that the influence of the change of reference point could aid to the attitude you're wanting to make in the song.

I don't get drunk often so I don't produce in that state, but I've produced high a couple of times. I can't be too high because then I get lazy/tired and all I want to do is play video games (I don't consider it a brainless activity, but I can play without thinking too much of it); I also can't start from scratch that way. I usually force out a chord progression or make a drum groove that I don't like once I hear it sober.

When I'm at the right level, I like continuing a process I've already started. Mixing is my favorite part of the process so I go HAM once I'm in the zone. I also use that time listening to how far I've come in production. Whether it's going back to old songs or just admiring my sound design, I remember that I've progressed more than I think. Like the others have said, there's a change in perspective.

Funny. You're second person I hear this exact thing from this week. Also this sounds like something to solve my overlistening issue by. Sad I'm normally enjoying more straight edge way of life.

Yea it could help with your over-listening issues..but since you do not partake in the marijuanas, you must think of a different way.  Something I do is just consciously stop the track when you dont need to hear it at the time.  Really be on yourself about it.  Treat your ears as if you only have about a 20 min listening period until your track sounds stale.

I'm not a pill kind of guy, but here is my experience
Alcohol: I tried few times to produce drunk after returning from party but I'm completely useless after few drinks. 1-2 standard glasses of whisky makes me less focused on details and creates a bit distance so I get more general feelings about the track.
Weed: I smoke only with friends and not more often then once in 2-3 months. As mrotsdnaS - eduraD said, it opens new mental gate - I started to hear tracks a bit differently and more in "colours and shapes". I believe after first joints different perspective on the mix and more creativity stays even when I'm not baked. It really is a gate - once you open these doors, they stay opened.
Cigarettes: although I recently quit smoking, right after a cig I could feel I was way more focused on things around me and on little details I've never thought of before. (fun fact: Alesso stated that all his inspiration and creativity comes from cigarettes/during smoking)
Coffee: as a person who drinks 2 lungos each day, I have high tolerance on caffeine and it barely affects me during production. (just fun fact: I read in some interview with Porter Robinson, that he is big coffee addict and coffee gives him the inspiration)
Sleep deprivation: it's not a substance, and might be a illusion or personal myth of some kind for me, but I believe that when I create music in these late nights and around 2 AM I start to be tired as hell, I came with the best killer melodies and chords. Very often I even forgot I made a melody for a song that night and when I open it again in next days I'm surprised that the melody sounds great

so... here are my 2 eurocents