Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend The Jazz Singer
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Jan 8, 2026 In this lively conversation, jazz singer Lucy shares her journey from Armenia to New York and the passion that led her to choose music over a career in history. She recounts learning English through pop culture, including Conan’s antics. A real treat comes as she teaches Conan the art of scat singing, mixing humor with melody. They delve into blues themes, discussing vulnerability in performance, and Lucy's experiences as an immigrant artist navigating tough choices. Their banter highlights both resilience and the joy of storytelling through music.
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Singing As A Way Out
- Lucy describes growing up in 1990s Armenia where singing was seen as a way out of poverty and to help the family emigrate.
- Her father smuggled jazz records into the USSR, which shaped her love for American jazz.
TV Made English Intimate And Learnable
- Lucy learned English intensely from American TV including Conan, Family Guy, and Mr. Rogers.
- She credits late-night intimacy on television for making language learning feel conversational and accessible.
Learn Scat By Mimicking A Drunk Memory
- Lucy teaches scat by imagining you're a mellow drunk trying to hum a melody to the person next to you at a bar.
- She says that recreating the melody casually is the easiest path into scat singing.