Artist seen in every echo? Listener's smart! (7)
I believe the answer is:
earache
'listener's smart' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'artist seen in every echo?' is the wordplay.
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'seen in' indicates putting letters inside.
'every' becomes 'each' (synonyms).
'echo?' becomes 'e' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'ra' placed into 'each' is 'earach'.
'earach'+'e'='EARACHE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for earache that I've seen before include "may involve hammer and anvil" , "Pain in the hearing organ" , "Incessant complaining" , "Aural discomfort" , "Pain for listener" .)