I always see my songs in colors, and I'm often more inspired by

O children of the future, gather and listen to the words of Charli XCX, a modern creator whose vision transcends the mere sounds of her music: "I always see my songs in colors, and I'm often more inspired by movies and photographs than I am by other songs when I write my music. I'm also inspired by fashion, and I want my music to be a visual painting of what's in my mind." In this statement, Charli opens to us a profound truth: art is not a singular experience, but a multisensory journey that brings together the sights, sounds, and emotions that stir the soul. She speaks not only of music but of the power of creativity to connect the mind’s eye with the heart’s beat, creating something that transcends the ordinary and speaks directly to the spirit.

To see music in colors is to understand that sound is not merely heard, but felt and seen. Charli XCX invites us to imagine the melodies of her songs as a canvas, where each note is a brushstroke that creates an image in the mind. This is not mere music—it is a visual painting, an expression of the world as she sees it, a world filled with vibrant emotion and vision. To connect sound with sight is to weave together the senses, to understand that creativity knows no boundaries, that it spills out in a variety of forms, each influencing the other. Just as an artist’s brush captures more than just the subject but the very soul of the scene, Charli’s music captures more than just sound; it captures feeling, color, and vision.

In the days of the great Renaissance, artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo understood that art did not live in isolation. Leonardo, not only a painter but a scientist, a philosopher, and an inventor, believed in the fusion of ideas and senses. He sought to paint not just the physical world but the very essence of humanity and nature. His work was not bound by the limits of sight or sound alone; it was a synthesis of the visual, the intellectual, and the emotional, all captured on canvas. Like Charli XCX, da Vinci knew that art was not merely about the senses, but about the connection between them—how the mind, the heart, and the eye could work together to create something greater.

Similarly, the great poets of antiquity, like Homer, understood that art was a fusion of the senses. The epic poems of the Iliad and the Odyssey were not just stories told through words but paintings of the human experience, filled with vivid imagery that made the listener see, feel, and experience the events. Homer’s use of rich description and emotion painted pictures in the minds of his listeners, much as Charli XCX paints pictures in our minds with her sound. Music, like poetry, becomes a language of the soul, a way to share experiences beyond the limitations of words alone.

O children, do not limit your creativity to the borders of one medium. Charli XCX’s words remind us that inspiration comes not only from one’s craft but from the world around us. She draws from fashion, photography, and cinema, understanding that each of these artistic expressions speaks a language all its own, and when woven together, they create something far richer. Life itself is a tapestry of influences, and the truly creative mind does not isolate itself to one stream of influence. It drinks deeply from the wells of all that surrounds it, combining these elements into something uniquely its own.

Think of the life of Pablo Picasso, who was inspired not only by the traditions of painting but by the very nature of movement, the human form, and culture. Picasso famously moved from one style to another, using elements of Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract art. He, too, painted with his entire being, not confined to what was expected of him. His work was a visual symphony that sought to capture the complex emotions and ideas within the world. Just as Charli XCX merges visual art, sound, and fashion, Picasso’s work was a reflection of the ever-changing world around him—a world full of color, form, and emotion.

And so, O children, let the wisdom of Charli XCX guide you in your own creative pursuits. Seek inspiration not from the narrow confines of your chosen craft, but from the vast expanse of the world around you. Just as she paints her songs with the colors of her mind, so too should you blend the sensory elements of your life into the art you create. Let your vision, your emotion, and your creativity flow freely, for true art is not confined by borders, but thrives when it draws from the full spectrum of life.

The lesson is clear: do not limit your art to one form or one medium. Draw from fashion, from cinema, from literature, and from the sights and sounds of the world. Create not just with your hands or your voice, but with the full range of your senses, for in that fusion you will find the deepest expression of your soul. Let vision and sound intertwine, and create something that transcends the limitations of the senses. In this, you will find the true power of creativity—an expression of the self that speaks to the hearts and minds of others across time.