CURRENT MISSION

I want to learn as much as I can about different cultures and meet people to hear their experiences and stories, and find common connections between us. I love to find new perspectives and to help me understand the world with more empathy + compassion. It helps me not only as an artist but as a person to keep on growing.

CURRENT TRAVELS
Excited to wander and find adventures in nature, make music, meet new people!

9/1-9/6 LA crash! 💥
11/5-11/15 Rome, Paris + ?
Madrid + Croatia + Morocco + Turkey!! 🔜

ABOUT ME

Hi! I love meeting people while traveling and can be found asking, “why not?” And saying “yes and!” while traveling and in life. Known to be a little spontaneous and to stir up chaos!
Grew up 2nd gen Chinese American in Michigan (it's the state in the middle of the country that looks like a mitten! Everyone uses their right hand when they talk about where in Michigan they're from hehe.) and going to Shanghai since i was a kid. Have mixed feelings about identity, happy to chat more.

Also I have ADHD! So this tends to come out more when I’m traveling or w/ new people and it’s both very fun and spontaneous to hang out with me!

I'm a classically trained pianist, artist, and creative director and commit all of my life to learning more about how music, arts, and collaboration, can bring people together and strengthen our communities.

I am very driven by what I want to do and excited about collaboration and storytelling!
I like exploring art museums, going to concerts of all shapes and sorts, watching independent (and unintentionally hilarious mainstream) movies), lectures, poetry readings, and being overwhelmed by the city. I also love the countryside, mountains, swimming, finding hidden spots!

I've been experimenting with creating an environment for an audience who wants to challenge the conventional setting of a concert hall by making the performance more informative and approachable. I love reading, and miss nature and would love to go hiking, rock climbing, and having absolute silence.

Please READ ALL OF THIS BEFORE MESSAGING ME WITH A HOUSING REQUEST!
I get flooded with messages for nyc and with performing/touring/traveling schedule, you will more likely get a “yes!” if you know + do the following:
-I accept ONLY one guest since my apartment is small and I share this space with my husband.
- We also have a cat! 🐈‍⬛
- Tell me what you’re looking to do in NYC! Or an interesting hobby/music/thing you like.
-YOU MUST HAVE REFERENCES!

Thanks!

https://lucy-yao.com

(Aw, 2010 version): My favorite places to travel are Paris and Stockholm--I love being surrounded by people in huge cities and feeling consumed and part of something. Biking in them is amazing! I hope to embark on a biking adventure around Spain, Germany, and France while couch surfing for most of the trip.

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

To meet people that I otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity to in my insulated musicians world!

兴趣

• arts
• literature
• poetry
• architecture
• fashion
• dancing
• salsa dancing
• reading
• traveling
• music
• classical music
• piano
• karaoke
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• surfing
• rock climbing
• philosophy
• psychology
• social science
• hitchhiking
• linguistics
• urban planning

音乐、电影和书籍

update: I’ve been on CS since 2010 (!!) and most of these reflect my tastes from high school! But that is okay (and slightly hilarious)
~
(Also 2010): Recently I've been trying to bridge the gap between my classical music background which mostly consists of dead german composers and my indie-ish & avant-garde/contemporary tastes in music. I don't think I hate any genre because there is so much to say in every one!
Some of my favorite groups are L’impératrice (J’adore le 🪩!), Kaytranada, Chairlift, David Bowie, Taylor Swift, Frank Ocean, Drake, the xx, Radiohead, Yaeji, Brahms, Ravel, Shostakovich, Scriabin, Bill Evans

Books: Ishiguro, Murakami, Brene Brown, Art of Gathering, Kafka, et al.

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

Get lost biking in Mt Fuji + the suicide forest and hitchhike w/ an ex-marine back to an onsen! Might’ve accidentally founded a creative studio that works with museums to perform and do installations with toy pianos!

教，学，和分享

Piano + How to make music. How to connect the dots between what you do and what you love. How to do the most adventurous thing! How to break the rules just a little! Also down to make a fool of myself in French + Chinese.

🗽NYC CS recs!
📚🥂Book bar - Liz’s book bar, books are magic, NYPL at Bryant Park (Joan Didion archive!)
🍨 Farmacy Soda fountain + ample hills
🎶 So many! Jazz: Village Vanguard. Shows: Bric + Summerstage for summer. MET opera, NYphilharmonic, BAM. Ask and I’ll have some advice.
🧺Picnic spots: Little Island, the piers in Manhattan, Brooklyn bridge park, prospect, fort greene, the list (does!) go on!
🥟 Best (Georgian) spots for Khinkali— Chama Mama, Laliko, Dumpling palace
🧖‍♀️Overwhelmed? Need a break? Me too. King spa (spend all day there and get amazing Korean spa/scrub), bathhouse in flat iron, Bergen spa for efficient massages.
🏎️ day trips: Storm King for amazing art!
🚫 Boston? half joking, but if you only have a week… there’s plenty to do and absorb here!
🎹🥁monthly Jam sessions. Hope your travels line up 🥳
🎭 Joe’s Public Theater. Experimental— La Mama.
🖼️🎨MoMA, The Frick, Guggenheim. They have a lot of concerts too. Mathematics museum!
🥢Vegan food! Bodhi Chinatown, Spicy Moon
🥐🥮 Banh by Lauren- crazy Vietnamese pastries.
🍫 Stick w/ me Sweets (see a pattern?)
💃🪩 Dance church at MMDG, kpop classes, layerrhythm, honestly I’m down to find/start a dance parties- just let me know!!
🚴‍♀️🌅 AMAZING places to bike: Hudson River park, Central Park, Prospect park, take your bike to the ferry —> Coney…
✍️🖌️🫟Happy Medium Art cafe!
🪄Special events: catch a concert in the cemetery at Greenwood Cemetery. Crypt series!
🚢 Ferry to Seaport (Manhattan) and to Mcnally Jackson’s Book + Wine bar!

我可以与沙发主分享些什么

You're going to hear more music recommendations in the time that you spend with me than you probably need. I also can help you learn that song that you really like.

我游览过的国家

Austria, Bahamas, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States

我居住过的国家

Denmark, United States