This Rare Neurological Condition Connects Billie Eilish and Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo has revealed that she experiences synesthesia, a neurological phenomenon where the senses can overlap.

The actress shared the news during a roundtable interview with The Hollywood Reporter, which also included Jennifer Lawrence, Amanda Seyfried, and Laura Dern.

“I have synesthesia, so I see color with music,” Erivo said. During the conversation, Lawrence sang a note and asked what color Erivo saw. “Blue,” she replied.

Synesthesia affects a small portion of the population, estimated between one and four percent. It isn’t considered a disease, but it can sometimes appear alongside certain brain-related conditions. According to the Cleveland Clinic, synesthesia “causes sensory crossovers, such as tasting colors or feeling sounds.”

There are many types of synesthesia, with researchers identifying at least 60 forms and some suggesting there could be over 100. Sight, hearing, and touch are common types, but experiences vary widely.

Erivo described her own experience as unusual and physical. “It’s a very odd feeling. I do a lot of symphony orchestra 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 explained. She added that synesthesia does not affect how she performs, saying it is “just an experience for me.”

Other famous artists have also spoken about their synesthesia. Billie Eilish, for example, has said it inspires much of her work. Speaking to Nylon in 2021, she explained, “All of my videos for the most part have to do with synesthesia. 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 also noted that synesthesia is fairly common among musicians.

On NPR, he said, “Most artists have it. It’s no big deal. And there are a lot of people who are not necessarily — they’re undiscovered artists, and they have it, too.”

Erivo’s openness highlights a fascinating way the brain can interpret the world. Synesthesia can turn everyday experiences into something uniquely vivid, and for some artists, it even informs their creative work.

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