After a little over a year of embarking on a new adventure, I bring the first chapter of this journey to a close with the release of my debut psytrance EP, entitled “Reflective Design.”

The main inspiration to this EP was the concept of "reflective design process". which arises from a question posed by Terence McKenna about what truly defines a highly evolved species: is it having a bipedal body and communicating through sounds, or could it, in fact, be something much more? Considering that the primary goal of any organism is its reproduction and the longevity of its species, there is a strong contender for this title: mushrooms. They have inhabited Earth for millions of years and, despite not moving on legs or communicating through sounds, they achieve all of this in an exceptional way. They carry their entire genetic identity in spores that spread simply with the force of the wind and create underground mycelial networks where they communicate through electrical and chemical impulses, managing, for example, to distribute nutrients and send warning signals to other species. They can also, in just a few generations, quickly develop the characteristics needed to adapt to a particular environment in order to ensure their survival. Not to mention that, instead of destroying Earth’s ecosystem, they preserve it and keep it balanced. There is even the question of whether they might not be native to planet Earth at all, but could have come from space, transported by meteorites or comets — since their spores are extremely resilient, surviving radiation, vacuum, and extreme conditions, thus making it possible for them to endure space travel and “seed” planets. This entire process of improvement can only be achieved through a reflective design process, where each step is based on the analysis of the previous one and, successively, until repetition finally generates new forms and new results. 

Artwork by: ohn3st.design

Morphogenisis 150 F

This is the psychedelic music project of Diogo Afonso, exploring a wide spectrum of the genre — from chill-out and downtempo (Chilled Fenixe) to dark and fast-paced sounds (Fenixe). Inspired by the organic sounds of nature and the mechanical aspects of creation, the project seeks to create immersive journeys that blend atmosphere, rhythm, and, most importantly, storytelling.