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Pharrell Williams - N.E.R.D. - Seeing sounds
Identifier
014417
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Pharrell Williams (born April 5, 1973), is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and fashion designer. Williams and Chad Hugo make up the record production duo The Neptunes, producing soul, hip hop and R&B music. He is also the lead vocalist and drummer of rock, funk, and hip hop band N.E.R.D, which he formed with Hugo and childhood friend Shay Haley. He released his first single "Frontin'" in 2003 and followed up with his debut solo album In My Mind in 2006. His second album, Girl was released on March 3, 2014.
The music-to-color synesthesia Pharrell has makes up who he is. He says "it's [his] only reference for understanding". While some people say Pharrell has a talent for music, he believes that it is his synesthetic gift that has allowed him to become a Grammy award winning artist and producer. Pharrell unlike many synesthetes has been very open about his synesthesia, naming his third album Seeing Sounds.
To Pharrell, synesthesia has a spiritual component, best found under sensory deprivation, which brings him to a higher level of understanding.