Meet Alia Laura, stand-up comedian, whale biologist, and self-described chaos gremlin who somehow makes all of it work. Known for her high-energy, goofy style and a stage presence that feels less like a performance and more like a conversation with your funniest friend, Alia brings an infectious authenticity to every set she does. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Russell Howard, Taylor Tomlinson, and Mae Martin, she has carved out her own lane in the Edmonton comedy scene with sharp, silly, and surprisingly science-flavoured material.
How would you describe your comedy style?
Honestly, the best possible word I can use to sum it up is goofy. I definitely wouldn’t say I take some sort of official approach or format; I just go up and be myself, using premises that I personally think are funny or silly. My favourite sort of joke is the ultimately dumb, and I think if you listen to my comedy, that really comes through. As far as my stage presence goes, I am very energetic on stage, which is super reflective of who I am in real life. I try to be very dynamic, and I find that engages the audience in a way I like and feels almost conversational, which is how I got into stand-up in the first place, by being outgoing and extroverted in social settings.
Who are some of your influences?
I don’t find myself being heavily influenced by any particular comic as I try to be as myself as possible on stage, though I certainly have stand-ups that I love and admire and whose style I think I emulate most closely, as they also have my silly brand of humour. My all-time favourite is Russell Howard, and I also love John Mulaney and Bill Burr. Taylor Tomlinson is also an absolute comedic goddess, and I find myself going to her specials when I want to get into the mindset of writing. Mae Martin’s socially awkward style slays me also, and while I don’t particularly reflect that, I definitely have taken some notes from their on-stage energy.
Who was your favourite comedian growing up?
Growing up, I was part of the Dane Cook and Russell Peters era, and they definitely rocked my world as major talents. I feel lucky to have been privileged enough to grow up with such talented people soaring high during my formative years, one of whom showed me how valuable it is to be goofy and the other who showed me how valuable it was to be goofy AND Indian.
Who is your favourite comedian now?
Me. No, just kidding, haha. It’s gotta be Russell Howard, no contest. Although, as mentioned earlier, I have a plethora of comics I really love and look up to. Mae Martin is probably the closest second, and of course, I am constantly coming across new comedians that I end up being completely floored by. Even in the Edmonton and wider Canadian scene, some of the local talent that I myself am on shows with are totally mind-blowing. Just goes to show that talent is everywhere, from massive theatre Netflix special shows to tiny bar basements in small-town Alberta.
What is your pre-show ritual?
Panicking. That sounds like a joke, and to a certain degree it is, but I get nervous before every show, haha. It’s crazy because the second I’m on stage, I am completely calm and feel like it’s where I am supposed to be, but leading up to that, I am always a mess. One thing, though, that calms me down is realizing that by getting on stage at all, even if you bomb, you’ve already won. So many people are so terrified of public speaking that they wouldn’t even dream of getting on that stage at all, so having the balls to even try is a win in its own right. From a more logistics perspective, though, I get my set ready with the jokes I wanna do, have a beer or two, vibe with the comedians who I am extremely privileged to call my buddies, and try to chill out and enjoy the show. You can learn something, however big or small, from every comic you see and being able to watch all these different artists with such different styles is an important part of any show I’m on. I also like to write my set on my hand in my own weird little shorthand to a) solidify what jokes I want to do, which makes me more confident in them, and b) to ensure my ADHD doesn’t take over mid-set and I forget what I am talking about. That eases the nerves a lot as well. I am not a nervous person by any means, so I never hate the pre-show panic because it indicates that this is something that’s important to me.
What is your favourite place you have performed? Why?
Hmm. Very difficult question. Every venue and show can offer such different things in terms of growth, fun, writing, and learning. You can do a show at a virtually empty bar and bomb, and that sounds like it sucks, but it’s actually a great opportunity to gather some takeaways about how to improve. Obviously, though, doing a huge show with a great crowd is an amazing confidence booster and allows you to tighten up your material without the fear of ‘failing’ (though I am reluctant to use that word). I love the Grindstone theatre and my first show there, because it was my first show ever, and that will always be really special, as it started this whole thing. I loved performing at the Lido Theatre in Fort St. John because it was my first ‘big’ theatre show and I did very well. Grande Prairie Kokanee Casino Night was also amazing because it was the first time I went on the road and is a big deal to get as a new comic, and I’ve gone back multiple times (and one time won the amateur night at the strip club there after the show!) and it’s always been so much fun. If I had to choose one, though, I’d maybe say the Comic Strip in Edmonton. This is probably because I was standing and performing on a stage that people I hero-worship as comedians had also performed on, which was a massive honour. I remember texting my friends after my first set there, saying, “I JUST PERFORMED ON THE SAME STAGE THAT STEVE-O HAS!” which was crazy exciting. It is so difficult to pick just one, though.
What is your favourite bit you have written and why were you proud of it?
I’m a biologist who has worked crazy hard on my academics, and I wrote a joke about something that was alluded to in one of my evolution classes about why people are so attracted to boobs and how that’s really dicked up my sex life. I love that joke because it came about completely organically just by riffing with one of my best friends, and I love that it brings my two passions, science and comedy, together in a way that lets me acknowledge my multifaceted….ness? It’s also super funny, and I get to bring up the fact that I’m Indian, which is something I am proud of. It’s been one of my go-to highlight reel jokes that slaps every time and that I genuinely think is funny. I never get sick of it, which can happen sometimes with jokes and bits you’re telling over and over, so yeah, I am pretty proud of that one.
What is your favourite medium for listening or finding new comics/comedians?
Definitely Netflix. It’s hard to whoohoo a gigantic corporation that I can barely afford to pay for, but damn if they don’t have some crazy good comedians on there. As someone with ADHD who hates silence, I always have something playing in the background, whether I’m on a hot girl walk or driving to a small town for a gig or cooking or working on whale biologist shit (hell yeah, I’m a whale biologist). Finding new comics on there is super easy, and it’s awesome to see there seems to be a new genre of show dedicated to finding new talent on top of all the amazing specials there are on there. I know so many comics that are so deserving of those opportunities, and I can’t wait to see some of my friends popping up on the ‘Everyone’s Watching’ category one day, hopefully soon!
Tell us a joke about your city.
What do me and Edmonton have in common? Huge, wet valley in the middle. Oh my god, I’m kidding. But only sometimes. WOW haha. No, let’s see here…What does Edmonton and every girlfriend sleeping in her boyfriend’s bed with him have in common? A lot of sprawl and displacement of native species. So dumb, haha, but as someone who’s woken up to many men clinging to the edge of the bed while I dominate the majority of the real estate with my tiny body, I can say it’s not inaccurate.
Do you have anything to promote right now?
I am currently co-producing a monthly show at Hudson’s on Whyte with my buddy Matt Chaney, who is also a very talented comedian and a wonderful person. I run semi-regular fundraisers as well for various social justice and environmental causes, most of which have been dedicated to Palestinian relief efforts, and I announce those on my social media as they come up. They are very close to my heart and something I try hard to make massive successes to not only raise money, but also awareness for the cause and to keep it at the forefront of people’s minds because stuff like that happening halfway across the world can be really easy to forget about or be willfully ignorant towards. I think it’s important to use whatever power you have to help those less fortunate, and since comedy is currently what I have to work with, it’s been a joy to use it to try and help out those struggling even when they’re halfway across the world.
Where can we follow you?
My biggest platform right now is Instagram, but I also use TikTok to post show promo stuff and reels. You can also follow me like…down the street, I guess, but that would be a weird move, although not one I haven’t seen before.
PAY IT FORWARD: Who is another local comic/comedian we should know about?
I think my number one choice to nominate would be Kyle Canniff. He hustles so hard not just for himself but for the whole scene. He is always trying to do stuff to help everyone else out and make our community the best it can be. He’s also an unbelievably talented person who grinds with incredible consistency and grit. I love him a lot, and I know everyone else will, too, when he inevitably pops off. If I could make a nod to another comic, I’d give it to Jim Kerr. He is my best friend and a terrific person and comic who treats every situation and person with authenticity, fairness, honesty, and, of course, humour. I just adore being around him ‘cause he makes everything fun, and he deserves great things and all the opportunities that a career in comedy has to offer. Those are my boys, and I want everything good for them (as well as most others in the scene!).
