Synesthesia is a rare phenomenon that affects only about 4% of the population. People with synesthesia see colors differently from others. Some experience sound-to-color synesthesia, also known as colored hearing or chromesthesia: when they hear a specific sound, they see a certain color – and vice versa.

Dustin O’Halloran approaches music differently because of his synesthesia. He thinks of colors first, rather than notes. He sees B as blue, D as red, G as orange, and C as yellow. Chords and harmonies create richer, more complex colors – even shapes, textures, and movement. For Dustin, using colors is an advantage he relies on and uses for composing. It’s just more intuitive.

Dustin O’Halloran is an Emmy Award–winning American pianist and composer with five acclaimed solo albums. He was also nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a Critics’ Choice Award. He lives and works in Los Angeles and Reykjavik.