Cynthia Erivo has disclosed that she experiences synesthesia.
While not extremely rare, synesthesia is not very common either, affecting an estimated one to four percent of individuals.
The Wicked actress shared this information during a roundtable discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, alongside other notable personalities like Jennifer Lawrence, Amanda Seyfried, and Laura Dern.
“I have synesthesia, so I see color with music,” Erivo explained. When Lawrence, known for No Hard Feelings, sang a note and inquired what color Erivo saw, she responded with ‘blue’.
Other well-known individuals who have previously discussed experiencing synesthesia include Billie Eilish, Pharrell Williams, Lady Gaga, and Kanye West.
So what exactly is synesthesia? Let’s clarify…
According to the Cleveland Clinic, synesthesia is ‘a phenomenon that causes sensory crossovers, such as tasting colors or feeling sounds’.
“Synesthesia isn’t a disease or a medical condition, but it can be a symptom of certain brain-related conditions,” the site elaborates.
This phenomenon can manifest in various forms, involving sight, hearing, and touch.
However, it’s not limited to just these three, as researchers have identified at least 60 types of synesthesia, with some suggesting there could be as many as 150.
“It’s a very odd feeling,” Erivo commented regarding her experience. “I do a lot of symphony orchestras concerts, [and] when you hear a concert orchestra together they make a particular song and it hits me in the back of the head. It’s very strange.”
She further described synesthesia as ‘hard to describe’ but emphasized that it’s a tangible sensation for her.
Lawrence inquired if synesthesia influences how Erivo decides to perform a song, to which she responded ‘no’, clarifying it’s simply an experience for her.
In 2021, Billie Eilish mentioned that synesthesia plays a significant role in her creative process.
“All of my videos for the most part have to do with synesthesia,” she told Nylon. “All of my artwork, everything I do live, all the colors for each song, it’s because those are the colors for those songs.”
Pharrell Williams has remarked that synesthesia is not uncommon among musicians.
He once stated on NPR’s Morning Edition podcast: “First of all, let’s dispel the connotation behind the phrase ‘medical condition’.
“Most artists have it. It’s no big deal. And there’s a lot of people who are not necessarily — they’re undiscovered artists, and they have it, too.”