Synesthesia, also known as “crossing of the senses” is where activity in one sensory pathway of the brain leads to experiences in another. It affects ~2-5% of the world population, according to current stats.
Some people can taste things just by hearing a word completely unrelated to the food (which I find fascinating, tbh). Some can think of certain numbers and it triggers the automatic thought of a color. A common type is sound/color (chromesthesia), where you hear a particular song or beat and suddenly you envision a color. That’s my type.
One of the songs I recall that triggered the feeling was “What is Love” by Haddaway. This was before Night at the Roxbury, this was before the video came out, so there was no visuals influencing it. When I first heard the song, I saw the color brown, almost copper. It was so vivid right before my eyes, it felt like an experience, not a thought. And it intensified when the bass kicks in. But I wasn’t able to talk about it much as a child, because no one knew what the heck I was talking about. It wasn’t until adulthood did I find out it was really a thing and I wasn’t the only one. As a kid it’d happen every time I heard that song.
“Steal my Sunshine” by Len? It triggered a forest green color (for me). Early 90’s dance music with the synths being a major component? They create a chrome/silver vision.
Why do these things happen? Sometimes, the brain in childhood and youth crosses information to other parts typically not associated with it. But for many, it slows in frequency once the brain matures.
Although it only happened occasionally, the phenomenon I experienced with it was far more stronger and common before I could read. Once I learned how to read, the lyrics of songs became the main drive in my subconscious and the experience then dulled significantly. I very rarely experience them now.
As a producer, I lean on releasing more instrumental-based music than songs with vocals and lyrics for this reason.
Just thought I’d share a cool science-y tidbit!
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