Lucy London
Please provide a brief summary of your research.
For my project I performed on various street corners around the country, from Chicago to San Francisco, Seattle to Juneau, Alaska, to research how music and performance reflects and changes the mood of a space, and how it has the power to draw passersby into an emotional headspace and create deep connections in an ever-estranged world.
What made you initially interested in researching your project in particular?
I like to sing with my guitar on the street and I felt there was a lot to unpack about the experiences I had doing that.
What made you interested in pursuing (interdisciplinary) research more broadly?
I wanted to focus my attention on something meaningful to me and try to parse our what made it meaningful and useful for the world.
Describe your experiences with research thus far. Was it tricky? What skills do you think you’ve gained?
Although I had a lot of fun doing my research, it was oftentimes also scary to get in front of a crowd of un expecting passersby to sing a song. It put me on the journey of learning how to let go of my filter of whether something is socially acceptable and just allowing whatever happens to transpire. Usually it heeds exciting results.
Any tips or advice you have for students similar to you that are interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
What makes you come alive? Follow that! Go for it!
If you had unlimited time, money, resources, support, etc. what is something you would research?
Why humans are never satisfied
What is your go-to phrase to yell during the finals “Primal Scream”?
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah (with a yodel)
Favorite bathroom on campus?
Parkes Hall secret bathroom on the first floor
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned/read about/listened to this week?
In the scope of eternity, everything is just as it should be, and that since time isn’t real, everything is perfect and all is well.
What is your most useless talent?
I can sing opera while walking on my hands (but I think it’s pretty useful).