What is Synesthesia?

In a scientific sense, synesthesia is when two or more of our senses overlap. This can look a whole range of different ways for different people, no one with synesthesia truly experiences the world the same way they do. Below are a couple examples of the different types of synesthesia that I have:

Grapheme - Color Synesthesia - this is the association of letters/numbers to specific colors. For example, the letter D is lime green to me, while the number 4 is a brown/orange. All letters and numbers have an inherent color in my mind.

Sound to Color Synesthesia - this is the big one - sounds have different colors to me. A squeaky door might sound maroon, while my kitchen timer is a pale blue. The exciting part is when it comes to music. Songs have a wide range of colors once we break down each instrumental and vocal arrangement - that is what my art shows! But collectively, without diving in too deep, each song I hear has a couple of really prominent colors

Ok but where do you see the colors? Does it affect your driving? What are concerts like?

These are all really wonderful questions! For me, I see colors then you would see a memory - the same way physically but also with the same level of factual understanding as you would recall what you had for dinner last night. All of these colors are just inherent things I know to be true as I listen to each sound. As for me, it is a skill I can tune in and

out of so it does not affect my driving. Concerts for me are just a deeper emotional experience - all the colors correlate with emotion as well so it just allows me to experience everything on a deeper, more full level.

Everyone experiences synesthesia differently - some sounds have tastes, numbers/letters have gender, or even a specific location in space and time. The exciting part? Our knowledge of synesthesia is evolving. I create art so you too can see and experience music the same way I do. Songs are not just for the ears anymore.

Want to learn more? Check out this website! How Synesthesia Works | HowStuffWorks