Listener's smart, seeing artist in every note (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.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'artist in every note' is the wordplay.
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'every' becomes 'each' (synonyms).
'note' becomes 'e' (musical note).
'ra' going inside 'each' is 'earach'.
'earach'+'e'='EARACHE'
'seeing' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for earache that I've seen before include "sort of pain" , "Each era (anag)" , "minor complaint" , "Incessant complaining" , "listener's discomfort" .)