Sound and color are both waves that physically alter our environment, each capable of evoking the full spectrum of human emotion.

The phenomenon of synesthesia is literally the interpretation of sound as color. Synesthetes and non-synesthetes alike experience music-color association — on dancefloors, in dreams, through psychedelia, or in moments of surprise and inspiration.

Hearing Color asks the question: What does it mean to view sound through color instead of genre, and to explore every color in a contemporary sonic palette? What does colorful music sound like?

James Axon looks to the most cosmic, emotive, and lush varieties of dance music past and present for answers, drawing from the sounds of deep house, dreamy techno, italo, balearic, psychedelic disco, ambient, IDM and the in-between. Sometimes it’s a solo mission, and other times like minded guests join in the musical inquiry.

For the first episode of Hearing Color, James Axon invites Jason Kendig, whose eclecticism and ear for beauty are a natural fit for the show.

Originally inspired by the music electrifying Detroit’s airwaves, Jason Kendig has been collecting and mixing a broad range of dance music for nearly three decades. From his first residency at Detroit’s infamous club Motor in the late 90’s he went on to become an integral member of San Francisco’s Honey Soundsystem. Now based in New York and a resident of Buddy Buddy, Kendig’s musical selections and seamless blends have brought him to dance floors around the globe where he never fails to make others move through his ability to reference dance music’s past while keeping an ear tuned towards the future.