Music, Emotions, & Synesthesia

Music. It inspires art. It elicits emotions. It is a sensory experience. I listen to music to have an effect on my emotions and to encourage creativity.

“Music doesn’t only evoke emotions at the individual level, but also at the interpersonal and intergroup level. Listeners mirror their reactions to what the music expresses”
Shahram Heshmat Ph.D., Psychology Today

Merriam-Webster defines synesthesia as: a concomitant sensation especially : a subjective sensation or image of a sense (as of color) other than the one (as of sound) being stimulated

How does music influence emotions? How is music interpreted through drawing?

Music, Emotions, and Synesthesia explores artistic and emotional responses to 3 different songs. Participants were asked to draw via their stream of consciousness (synesthesia) as they listened to the songs. They then answered questions about the emotions they experienced and how these emotions affected their artwork. The artwork and emotional responses varied greatly in some ways. However, they all seemed somewhat connected through the process. Most participants had no plan for their artwork as the music started. Through the process, the design began to evolve and take a more cohesive approach. The colors and line markings represent the feelings that emerged throughout each song. Music, Emotions, and Synesthesia is a look into music as emotion as synesthetic art.