Are Psychedelics Replacing Party Drugs? A Conversation with Nick Moody
- Filip
- May 5
- 2 min read
What happens when the rave doesn’t end in a comedown, but in a moment of clarity? For a growing number of people in Berlin’s underground and beyond, psychedelics are shifting from trippy afterthoughts to center-stage substances. Less about escapism, more about connection. And few speak on this transition as openly as Nick Moody.
Originally from Amsterdam and now based in Berlin, Nick is part of a new generation rethinking the chemistry of nightlife. In his own words:
“There was a point where I realised I wasn’t partying for the same reasons anymore. I wasn’t looking to escape—I was looking to feel something real, even while dancing for hours.”
In this Playful Podcast interview, Nick opens up about his personal shift away from traditional party drugs like MDMA and cocaine, and toward psychedelics like mushrooms and LSD—substances long associated with introspection, now finding new meaning on the dancefloor.
From Stimulants to Psychedelics: A Cultural Shift
In cities like Amsterdam, where Nick first started partying, the club culture is open, he says, but also “very stimulant-based.”
“You go to clubs and it’s MDMA, coke, pills. Everyone’s chasing this high, but by the end of the night, it’s like... we all look like broken robots.”
Moving to Berlin introduced him to something different—a slower, deeper, more immersive experience where psychedelics weren’t just tolerated, but sometimes embraced as part of the ritual.
“In Berlin, I met people who would microdose before a party or take a small tab of acid, not to get wasted but to feel more present. That blew my mind.”
Connection Over Chaos
Nick’s reflections tap into a broader question: what are people really seeking when they go out? For some, the answer is no longer a night of forgetting—but remembering. Remembering their bodies, their emotions, their connection to others.
“When I started using psychedelics intentionally, it actually made me party less. But when I did go out, I felt more connected—to the music, the people, even the space. It wasn't about escape anymore. It was about presence.”
This ethos runs counter to traditional narratives around clubbing, but it's gaining traction in pockets of nightlife where harm reduction and emotional honesty are becoming part of the vibe.
A Psychedelic Future for the Club?
Of course, psychedelics aren’t without their risks—especially in chaotic, overstimulating environments. But the conversation is evolving. With research exploring therapeutic uses of psychedelics, and communities rethinking how and why they party, substances like mushrooms and LSD are being reframed—not as reckless, but as ritual.
Nick sums it up like this:
“It’s not about tripping out in the middle of a warehouse. It’s about intention. Psychedelics can bring a softness to nightlife that’s often missing. They can remind you that you’re human—even when the music’s hard.”
