Airhead on Alex Phipps
In this edition of the Name in Progress project, I interviewed Alex Phipps. A musical comic, writer and Writer's Assistant on the Showtime variety show Ziwe.
Me (Airhead) and Alex Phipps after our interview via Zoom.
Socials
FOLLOW US WE’RE HOT!
Airhead’s IG: airheadcomedy
Alex’s IG: phake_news
We sat down and here’s what happened…
italics mean action
() mean more context
- for pauses in speech
…means trailing off
Airhead
Hi.Are you giving me permission to record?
Alex Phipps
Yeah.
Airhead
And could you state your name?
Alex Phipps
I'm Alex Phipps.
Airhead
Hi, I'm Airhead, and that’s who you're talking to you right now. So how's your day going so far?
Alex Phipps
It's good, it's good. I had a show that went really late last night so I'm a little bit tired but I'm good.
Airhead
Oh yeah. That I'm sing for your supper show, right? How did it went?
Alex Phipps
Yeah, it was good. It was good. It's in Manhattan. So it's kind of far from my house, but But it was fun.
Airhead
Oh, I was like, looking at your Instagram and stuff like so what exactly is it? Like I saw I saw, I know, like I saw your set. So your are you like a trained opera singer? Alex Phipps says yea So like you incorporate like a lot of music. You said, I like read on your Instagram that you say, you call yourself a musical comedian.
Alex Phipps
Giggle I recently came out as a musical comedian. I for years, I was just doing straight stand up. And like every once in a while do characters and maybe I would like to bout being an opera singer but it took me a long time to sort of figure out how to incorporate this other, very random skill that I have into my set. And yeah it's been kind of a recent thing but I feel like it's a good fit and it feels right because it is what I've been doing for most of my life. So yeah, that's that's the story with that. But Sing for Your Supper is it's a cute show, it's all musical comedians. So people who either like write original music or, you know, play an instrument and tell jokes and yeah, it goes to benefit a different organization each time. Our next show is at Club Cummings ( Nightclub in East Village,Manhattan), which is really exciting. On April 9th. We haven't decided which organization we're going to donate to just yet, but it's sure to be a good show. Last night's show was like an all femme and women lineup, which was great for international women's day, of course. And then my other show that I produce is called Hit it which is stand up and karaoke so people who are not singers can do it and it's really funny. They do about five minutes of stand-up and then they do a karaoke song of their choosing and it's always fun to watch people spiral because every song is so much longer than you think it is. Laughs
Airhead
Oh when is that show going to happen again? The hit it show.
Alex Phipps
It is at Easy Lover. March 21st is the next one. It tends to happen in every month around the same time.
Airhead
Bet, I'm there. That sounds. So fun. Oh my gosh, I'm so like, how are you doin comedy? Because you're also writer on Ziwe (Variety show on SHOWTIME starring comic and 19 yr old Ziwe), right?
Alex Phipps
Well yes. And no. I'm the writer's assistant and script coordinator, but I have gotten many, many pieces and jokes on the show. it's a fine distinction but a distinction, nonetheless thing. Yeah, I love my job. I love doing it. I've been doing comedy on and off since college, so that's what? Like 2015, 2016. So how many years is that? So 16 17 18, 19, 20,21,22,23 so seven years with a two-year hiatus so five years call it and then I really began in earnest after well during and after covid because basically I moved to San Francisco and I was like, I'm a normal girl. I'm going to be normal, I promise I'm not going to be on the stage anymore. I'm going to have an office job and it was just really not fulfilling me. My partner, who's now, my husband he was just like, you were so miserable and then covid hit. And I was like, yeah! No I’m just kidding. Laughter I lost everything. I lost my job, and I was producing live events, but it was really cool because it was a live storytelling show. You may have heard of it was called Pop-up magazine (A magazine performed live). And What it was was like we would have journalists, comedians, musicians, come on and tell their story and we would have like a live band like score it while they were talking and then we'd have like visuals to accompany it. And so I would help create those pieces for brands and I would get to go on tour and like meet everybody. So by doing that I was able to meet Jordan Carlos (Comic known for being on the Colbert Report), Jo Firestone (Comic and actress), Chris Duffy (Comic, podcast host and tv writer) Kat Cohen (Comic known for incorporating cabaret songs into comedy), and like all in a very short period of time and when I would hang out with some of these people, they would be like, what are you doing creating branded content for these people? Like you're funny. Are you a comedian? You should be a comedian and I was like, no, what are you talking about? I don't do that anymore. But then covid hit lost that job pretty quickly, obviously. And I was just like, you know, if I'm going to lose something, I want it to be something that like I actually care about and like, and fully invested in so that I know that like I've been giving it my all, right. And not that I wasn't giving that my all but like you can't give your all to something that you're not fully passionate about. And so I started teaching like online fitness classes and got certified as a personal trainer so I could have like a side hustle and I just started submitting to stuff online. I took classes with the Groundlings (Improv and sketch comedy school in LA). I got themed enter at SNL, which was great. And he was basically like, yeah, I mean, you should move to New York, because this is kind of where it's happening. And I was like, I don't know, I'm scared. So, I kept somebody to stop doing online shows and I just kept getting the same feedback and I kept submitting packets and they were doing pretty well. And so I was like, okay, I'm just going to move to New York, fuck it, yolo. And when I did my friend from high school who also happens to be an executive producer on Ziwe was like, hey, what do you think about this show? Do you think this is funny? And I was like, yes, I think it's very funny. And so I was sort of like in there helping to make the sausage before I got hired. And giving her my feedback. And then when they got their second season, I submitted a packet and then I didn't get the official writers position, but they hired me as writers assistant. And that was what I was doing for the past year and it was great. It was wonderful experience. I mostly like, took notes and stuff, and then after a while, they started asking me. Like, if I had any ideas that if I wanted to pitch stuff and then when I did, I had what? My boss would call a high batting average. So usually when I would pitch stuff, it would get in which was great and felt really awesome. And yeah basically I've been doing stand-up since then doing that show and then I've been on hiatus for the past like six months and so I've really been diving into like my writing process and like you know creating a bunch of material both on stage and up.
Airhead
Okay, that's like a really interesting journey. Really, Yeah, so like where are you from? So you just moved to San Francisco, then you move to New York?
Alex Phipps
Yeah, so that's a whole other long story. Sorry, I'm going to like, talk your ear off but basically I am Jamaican and American my dad's a white guy from Utah. My mom is to make it and I was raised in Miami and so that's where I'm originally from. And then I went to college at Hofstra in Long Island and then I lived in Brooklyn. Like literally three blocks from where I live now, and then my mom got sick. So, I moved back to Miami and I was there for, like, around a year ish. And then, I met my now, husband, and he was living in San Francisco. And I got a job in San Francisco, working at a nonprofit that helps kids with their writing. And so I was like, ok, here I go. New adventure, normal girl era. Let's get it and so I was doing stand-up in Miami when I met him. I had a weekly show at a venue down there that I would that I was asked to headline, which was great. And yeah, then I didn't do It. Lived in San Francisco. Got this opportunity of moved to New York and here I am.
Airhead
That's great. That's a good. Oh you definitely lived a life. You've done it. Alex Phipps giggles and says yeah So you said like you're half Jamaican and half white. So like how is your race and like being biracial like play into your comedy because I saw you perform so you definitely talk about it.
Alex Phipps
Yeah, yeah. It's a big part of who I am and it's a big part of my stand-up. I do feel it's It's- it's- a complicated question. But basically, I always try to get it out of the way at the top because I know when people look at me, they're going to be like, what is going on, because I wear my hair all different ways. Like, sometimes I'll have braids. Sometimes I'll wear it natural. Sometimes I'll wrap my hair up, it just whatever. I'm feeling at that moment and I know when strangers, usually in a stand-up crowd, it's typically white male strangers. See me they're going. To be like, well, fight or fuck. I don't know. Laughter I'm like, let me just set the record straight As to, like, what's going on here. And so, that's a part of why I do it. But I also think it informs like, how I see the world and like, not being able to put in be in one category or the other. For my whole life has sort of given me a gift of being able to see, like different perspectives. And I feel like that really shows up and how goofy my comedy is because like I tend to draw connections that other people maybe wouldn't because I have this like sort of split view. But I wasn't raised in a house with my white dad and my black mom, I was raised by my black family by my mom and my grandmother and I'm close with my dad but he didn't really raised me and so it's confusing to people because they see me and they're like oh you're white passing, and people literally have asked me in the comedy scene, like, why don't you just like, let people believe that your white? I was like, that's white supremacy. Laughter
Airhead
That's a crazy thing to say to someone, oh my God.
Alex Phipps
Right? It isn't that psychotic? People are nuts. I'm like, oh my God. You're so thirsty to claim me. Literally, chill. Laughter
Airhead
So with that in mind. How would you describe your style of comedy?
Alex Phipps
Oh my gosh, I don't even know. Um, people have described it as endearingly hostile. Laughter And I would say that, that's right. I feel like working on Ziwe, it was such a gift because I in my interview with her, she was like, why do you want to work here? And I was like, because you're saying the shit that I always want to say to people, but like in polite society cannot say and like, the sort of trapping of people is something that I do without meaning to. Just by my very nature of being right? And so it's, of course, a white person told me I was endearingly hostile. It's like, I don't think I'm being hostile but now that you said, Laughter here we go. Hammer time. But yeah, I don't know. I feel like I sort of, I do a lot of misdirects, I'm very goofy. Somebody also described me as being a Mr. Magoo mixed with a spicy beef patty Laughter, so I don't know.
Airhead
What? That’s so random. People get like really weird but people who are like, multiracial, it's really weird. I don't get it.
Alex Phipps
Yeah. And like, you guys know that people be fucking right? Like, that's It's actually super normal and has been going on since the dawn of time. Laughter
Airhead
So like-, are you pretty happy with your comedy career so far? Because seems like you are.
Alex Phipps
Yeah. Yeah. Oh my gosh. I've been so blessed. Like please. I would say I couldn't ask for more, but it's like in this business, of course, there's always more. And like, I have aspirations and like, you know, things I want to grow into in my career, but for where I'm at. And for how long I’ve been at this like consistently in this town, I'm thrilled, you know, and I feel very lucky. And, you know, people, sometimes I like tell me a story about what you really bombed and I'm like, I feel really lucky. I haven't in this go-round of stand-up really bombed. The only time I ever bombed was the, to be fair, there was one time, but I would say it wasn't fully my fault. I was at this like it. Was you know one covid like the restrictions were lifting and people were like doing open mics in their backyards and on their roofs and like in their fucking toilet or whatever. Airhead says yeah I was I will not name inaudible
Airhead
Yeah could you say that again? Because you just like froze so like I have no idea what you just said.
Alex Phipps
Oh the mic and the amp wasn’t working. It was like disconnecting like feedback, it just sounded terrible and so that like really threw me off and also there was like wasps everywhere and then in the middle of my set this Pomeranian just runs out and starts doing tricks Laughter Airhead says omg their upstaging you and I was just like, yeah, I don't think you stand a chance against that, to be honest. So fuck. That little Pomeranian. Next time I see her. It's on site. Just kidding. She's so cute.
Airhead
You should do Must Love Dogs and Comedy and tell them that story.
Alex Phipps
Oh yeah, I did that show. Yeah, yeah. Actually next time I do it, I will. I love that show. It's so funny when I did it. This guy literally got like not attacked but like a dog that was really big surprised him. One of the comics and he just went down. He just went down. Airhead says That's fucking hilarious. And the owner was just like fluffy stop.
Airhead
Ok, so I have like two more questions before interviews over. So what is your like career goal like that you want for your like career? Like I don't know. Like five years from our ever. Like what do you like aim for?
Alex Phipps
Oh, there's so many things so I would love to be like officially a staff writer. Hopefully before 5 years from now, because I feel like I'm very close. and I would love to have my own show like produce my own TV show from my own concepts and I would love to be a showrunner and creator. I feel like with my writer's assistant experience its like- I just very much understand the like back end of how a writers room works and how like the production end of it works. And I have this other creative side and I feel like it would make me good at executing my vision in that way. So yeah, those are like my business goals, I guess. But like, creatively, I would love to have like a solid hour set. I would love to sell a special. And yeah, I just want to keep pursuing this musical comedy. I'm like, trying to write an album right now of song. And create a show off of that. So stay tuned for that. But yeah, I would say those are my goals and also had to to live happily ever after. Laughter
Airhead
Okay, so this is the final question of the interview. I ask everyone this at the end interview. So what do you think, like the listeners or the readers? However, they're consuming this content can take away from this interview.
Alex Phipps
Being biracial is okay laughter, stop being mad at me. Laughter Um, no, Laughter I think that people can take away that like no matter how random and dogshit your life is. If you just fully commit yourself to something, you can achieve it and like you gotta be ready for the long haul. I've been at this for a very long time and my life has had such ups and downs but like here I am still standing. And it has not been easy, but I wouldn't change it for anything and I think if anybody wants to do this, like just know that you can and never let anybody tell you that you can't and just keep getting better and you'll do it.
Airhead
Okay, that was such a good answer. It's not the end of the interview. Thank you for the time. Sorry about the like the weird like glitching. I don't know what why that happened.
Alex Phipps
No, I'm sorry. Wait, can I turn off my camera? Put on a different shirt and we can take the photo.
Airhead
Yeah, I'm gonna stop recording right now.
The Beginning Part
This week I am still full of anxiety but working through it. I read that meds take 4 to 6 weeks to fully work…This is gonna be the longest 4 to 6 weeks of my life but I remain positive. I feel like a lot of things in my life lately is just wait and see. I’ll put it out there what I want and just wait for it come to me. I think that’s best.
Working on this particular blog post got me thinking about my race. I am Hispanic, one half of family being from the Dominican Republic and the other half from Ecuador. So I am mixed with black, white and indigenous. I also look racially ambiguous, so people are usually a bit confused about what I am. People have also gotten mad at me for not identifying as black. Which I kind of get because a lot of Dominicans are black but are extremely anti-black (Plenty of people like that in my own family) so they don’t see themselves like that. But that’s not the case for me, like yes technically I am but I don’t face the same struggles as a person who looks 100% black. I know am I not perceived that way, so why would I identify as that?
I still pretty much struggle with my race so I just say I am a mixed Latina. Like yea people still don’t like that answer but it’s what I feel the most comfortable with.
This week I need Meg Chizek’s mic again at E’s Bar. I love that mic and have been going weekly. It went really well! I am so excited for my show on Friday! I am performing at Joile Dudley’s show, Must Love Dogs and Comedy. It will be March 24th (The day this is published) at 7 pm at Boris and Horton in Brooklyn! Part of the ticket sales get donated to animal rescue center! And the tickets are donation based!
But to the topic at hand, Alex Phipps.
Photo of Alex Phipps performing taken from her IG.
The Narrator
I first met Alex Phipps when I saw her at Meg Chizek’s show, The Cat’s Meow, an all womxn show that donated to The National Network of Abortion Funds. She performed a very musical set, sang an opera and was just overall funny.
Alex Phipps is a self-titled musical comedian who is from Miami, Florida. She talks about her upbringing and being bi-racial in her set. She is half Jamaican, half white and looks racial ambiguous. She doesn’t shy away from a topic that can confuse and make people uncomfortable. When she does these jokes she turns the joke on it head, going a different way than you would expect. All while putting her all into it, literally using tons of physicality.
Alex Phipps hosts two shows, Sing For Your Supper, a musical benefit show. The next being at 9pm at Club Cummings on April 9th! and Hit It! A stand-up and karaoke show! Check Alex’s IG for updates!
A photo I took of Alex Phipps performing at her show Hit It!
The Interview
Well we talked over Zoom with me in my school’s library and her at home. It was such an insightful interview. I for one have not ever met a trained opera singer and musical comic.
I learned about Alex mixing her love for music with comedy and her journey to getting to where she is now. Moving around a bunch, and even giving up on her dreams of performing and getting an office job. But it killed her so she started performing again but then COVID happened and it just ended all of that for quite some time.
We also talked about how proud she is if herself, which she should be, and her style of comedy and also how weird white people can be to her because of her mixed heritage. I really like how open and proud she is of her mixed background and even admitting how huge of an impact this has on her point of view in comedy.
A picture i took Alex Phipps doing her karaoke song, A thousand Miles, and one of the audience members got so into it they pulled out a lighter.
The After Part
After the interview was over we talked a bit. I found out Alex identities as black or just mixed. Her frustrations with being white passing, her Jamaican family which she was raised by and her grandma’s love for the Queen. We even talked a bit about my race. It was nice to just have an open dialogue with someone in a similar position to me.
Alex Phipps is hilarious musical comic who genuinely entertains and intrigues me. Her unique take on things, like child labor (Which was so funny but I’ll let you find out when you see her perform because you definitely should), which I saw her joke about at her last Hit It! show. She made me laugh so hard during set, from her great crowd-work to her energy to her satire. She even did a unique and funny rendition of A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Cartlon by making it about gentrification. Alex Phipps is definitely part of the future of comedy and I WILL be going out of way to make sure I see more her!!
Airhead Mantra’s #17
Be as open a hole in the floor.
Socials
FOLLOW US WE’RE HOT!
Airhead’s IG: airheadcomedy
Alex’s IG: phake_news
