Varun’s research, building on his history as a guitarist, focuses on the existential condition of the jazz musician. Heeding Sartre’s mantra that “existence precedes essence,” Varun wonders how starting with the complex, racially marked, urban reality of the jazz musician can guide our understanding of the music. In simpler terms, how does the fact that the jazz musician is thrown into the world influence our musical intuitions, and are these properties then theoretically quantifiable? In his dissertation “Being and Jazz: An Existential Analysis of Charles Mingus,” Varun considers these questions in relationship to the life and music of jazz bassist Charles Mingus. Varun’s research engages with a wide range of literature, including but not limited to: musicology/music theory, Black studies, existential and feminist philosophy, performance studies, and post-colonial theory.