Hearing In Colour

Album: Hana (2023)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Synesthesia is a neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory pathway. People who report a lifelong history of such experiences are known as synesthetes. Synesthesia is not a disease or a medical condition, but rather a variation in how the brain processes sensory information.

    There are many different types of synesthesia, including chromesthesia where people hear sounds as colors. Sophie Ellis-Bextor's producer, Ed Harcourt, has this condition. "When he plays chords he can see colors and days of the week," the singer told The Sun. "And I'm really fascinated by that idea. There is even something called mirror synaesthesia where someone can feel someone else being touched."
  • Other musicians who are synesthetes include Coldplay's Chris Martin, Pharrell Williams, John Mayer, Lorde and Charli XCX.
  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor recorded "Hearing In Colour" for her seventh studio album, Hana, which is the Japanese word for blossom. The feverish dream-like song is one of several inspired by a 2020 trip Ellis-Bextor made to Japan just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Musically, she sought to create a fantastical world for the album inspired by her time in the Far Eastern country.
  • Ed Harcourt plays the piano on the track. The other musicians are:

    Simon Byrt: synthesizer
    Richard Jones: bass guitar
    Pablo Tato: electric guitar
    Jackson Ellis-Leach: drums

    Richard Jones is the bassist of the rock-pop group The Feeling and Ellis-Bextor's husband. They met when he auditioned for her tour band in 2002.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Steve Morse of Deep Purple

Steve Morse of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple's guitarist since 1994, Steve talks about writing songs with the band and how he puts his own spin on "Smoke On The Water."

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music Scene

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.