Exploring music through colors, Melissa McCracken's synaesthetic art

Melissa McCracken, a synesthetic artist, explains her unique ability to perceive music as colors. She describes synesthesia as a neurological condition where stimuli create unexpected responses in the brain. Melissa shares her artistic process, where she paints music, translating songs into vibrant colors. She discusses her preference for jazz music, associating it with blues and golds. Melissa also reflects on her personal connection to music, influenced by her brother's musical talent, and how synesthesia allows her to experience music in a unique way.

What is synesthesia as described by Melissa McCracken?

• A condition where music is felt as physical sensations.

• A condition where colors are seen as sounds.

• A condition where sounds are heard as colors.

• A condition where tastes are experienced as colors.

How does Melissa McCracken decide on the colors to use in her paintings?

• By asking others for their color interpretations.

• By listening to the song and feeling the colors.

• By researching the song's history.

• By analyzing the lyrics of the song.

Which genre of music does Melissa find visually appealing and why?

• Rock music because of its dynamic energy.

• Jazz music because of its gold and blue hues.

• Classical music because of its complexity.

• Pop music because of its bright colors.

What does Melissa McCracken express about her musical abilities?

• She is a talented musician.

• She feels disappointed for not being musically inclined.

• She has no interest in music.

• She prefers painting over music.

How does Melissa's synesthesia affect her perception of her brother's guitar playing?

• She hears the music as a series of numbers.

• She sees the music as a series of colors.

• She feels the music as vibrations.

• She tastes the music as different flavors.