Casts - Desire Path

On a January evening, on the top floor of a medical plaza in the Chicago suburbs, Joshua Bohnsack began an experimental psychedelic therapy for treatment-resistant depression. He was told to prepare a playlist of instrumental and ambient music, and found familiar songs unfamiliar while receding into dissociation.

Researching changes in frequencies and tones that amplify the experience of the treatments, Bohnsack started creating tones to accompany sessions. As a writer and folk musician, Bohnsack had to learn how to communicate without words. Known for his work with Gold Dust and Driftless Region, Bohnsack revived his Casts moniker and took to synthesizers and digital production. Through months of testing, Bohnsack explored what was most effective in the moment and helped in recovery the following days. This music became the concept album Desire Path, named for the rewiring of the brain. The resulting music is meant for both introspection and ego death acceptance.