Matt Wright Went Live from the Atlantic Ocean

The 50th Annual JUNO Awards will take place June 6, with various celebrations, online performances, and ceremonies throughout Juno Week. In its 50 year history, the Juno’s Comedy Album of the Year award has been presented only seven times. We caught up with the nominees for 2021 Comedy Album of the Year category, including Matt Wright for his album Existing Is Exhausting.

Congratulations on your Juno nomination. What does this recognition mean to you?

Thank you. Oh, it's really really nice. All I really want to do is put together some work that brings people enjoyment so to have the Junos recognize it is a huge bonus and quite an honour. Also, I feel like a fraud but I've been told that's normal.

When and where was your album recorded?

A couple years back at Quidi Vidi Brewery, with the harbour in the background. I almost called it "Live from the Atlantic Ocean".

What was your most memorable experience in recording and releasing this album?

My friends Heidi Brander and Kevin Shustack came to Newfoundland when I was recording the album and did the show as well. Kevin had never been here and we made a weekend of it. Got some fish and chips, got some brunch, did a show, had a little party. The social part of comedy is usually my favourite and it's what I've missed most during lockdown.

What advice do you have for other comedians who want to release a comedy album?

Write a lot of jokes. More than you need. I get really bored when you're just trying to hammer down a 7 minute bit and doing it over and over. For me, what's engaging is to constantly be throwing in a few new things. I try to write two minutes of new jokes per week. Not necessarily good jokes....just ideas worth exploring. That sounds really small but I'm a big believer in doing a little bit consistently over giant large scale efforts. If you write 100 minutes, and 55 minutes of it sucks ass, but you still have 45 minutes you can hopefully shape into something. And over the years, the 55 minutes of loose ideas may form into something better.

But actually, the best advice I could give anyone is to pay close attention to what works for you because what I just described might be a nightmare for some people.

Which fellow Juno nominee, in the comedy or music categories, would you like to go on tour with and why?

Bahamas! Have been listening to so much Bahamas over the pandy. I love his music. Or maybe Celine Dion because I feel we'd have a lot to talk about and I could do "My Heart Will Go On" on the recorder for her.

How would you describe your style or genre of comedy?

32 year old man doing his best.

Did you, or do you, have any mentors in the Canadian comedy scene?

When I started I always think of two guys in Newfoundland. Steve Coombs was running the amateur Yuk's show and he helped me so much when I was started. George Price also gave me a ton of advice and encouragement (RIP). Really invaluable in your first few months.

I also met Adam Christie when I was just starting amateur nights and he was touring here, but I'm lucky I met him early because he's a talented, hardworking, and original comedian. Just a great example of how to do this job. He's one of my best friends and I am getting the urge to balance this with an insult so it's not uncomfortable but I won't.

How have you been navigating the comedy scene since most shows moved online? Has your comedy changed as a result?

I've done three digital shows. They were fine. Mostly I've just been resting my brain and/or suppressing pandemic anxiety, if I'm being honest. My comedy has changed in the sense that because I'm out of practice it is....worse now.

Which Canadian comedy album, besides yours, should readers check out?

All the other nominees. Also: Meg McKay - Probably A Witch. Nigel Grinstead - Unplucked. Brandon Ash Mohammed - Capricornication. Jackie Pirico - Dream Phone. John Cullen - Long Stories For No Reason. That's just this year and honestly there's a ton more. I'm anxious I'm forgetting people.

Honestly, I'd just like to vouch for the comedy album as an art form in general. What a beautiful way to spruce up a drive or a walk. I guess you could just pay attention to nature or whatever, but, meh. There's a lot of Canadian comedy that deserves more attention. The only difference between American comics and Canadian comics is American comics get more attention. I'm not complaining, but I've seen Canadian comics do shows with famous comedians and our country can absolutely hang and there's a lot of working artists here who are deserving of attention.