Exclusive Interview: Joe Kwaczala Talks ‘Funny Songs and Sketches’, Holiday Album, and More

Joe Kwaczala is one of the most exciting stand-up comedians in the game. Whether he’s killing it at festivals across the country or bringing the laughs to projects like Tailgaters and Kwaczala, Joe knows how to serve up a hefty dose of humor.

His most recent venture, Funny Songs and Sketches, didn’t merely turn heads; it climbed to the peak of the iTunes’ comedy charts, claiming that sought-after #1 position.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Joe about Funny Songs and Sketches, his new holiday album, and more!

PC: Funny Songs and Sketches is a delightful throwback album, yet it manages to be refreshingly innovative. How were you able to seamlessly toe that line? Was it something you were mindful of during the recording process?
Joe: You know, it’s only a throwback because they don’t happen that much anymore. I don’t think there’s anything inherently retro about recording sketches just for audio. In other words, it was easy to apply my sensibility to a new medium without having to change anything about the kind of content that I want to do. Sure, it’s less impressive on audio when I eat 65 apple pies in one sitting (my signature bit!), but I think people have pretty good imaginations and can trust that I’m doing it for real.

PC: With this being such an under-appreciated art form, did anything surprise you while putting this album together? What was the biggest takeaway that you’ve been able to bring to the different aspects of your career?
Joe: It was really easy to redo stuff if I sucked. Like, if we listened back and I wasn’t bringing it, no problem…we can just do it again. Not as easy to do if there had been cameras involved because reshoots are expensive! But audio? Easy as pie (but not as easy as eating 65 apple pies in one sitting!) Listening back to my audio and really having to analyze my voice, I think, will forever change how I use my voice in things going forward, whether it’s in auditions or my own videos.

PC: Who were the comedians who’ve impacted and influenced your journey as a storyteller?
Joe: I was a major comedy sponge as a kid and really took in as much as I could find, so there would be too many to name. I also would never call myself a storyteller. But this album is Comedy Songs and Sketches, so…. for comedy songs: Lonely Island, Tenacious D, Adam Sandler, Flight of the Conchords, Weird Al Yankovic. For sketches: Mr. Show, SNL, Tim Robinson, Captain Dumpy’s Sketch Scramble.

PC: As a comic, there’s such immediacy when you’re on stage that you don’t get when you’re working on a sketch album. How does that affect the process of deciding what makes the final product?
Joe: Yeah, coming from standup, I would have liked to see a crowd’s reaction to these before I released them. But also, that’s not how people listen to this thing. If it doesn’t work in front of a crowd, that doesn’t mean people won’t enjoy listening to it privately on their laptop or whatever. You just kind of have to go with your gut and what feels right. That’s one of the biggest lessons I learned from my hero, Captain Dumpy.

PC: Daniel Clark is a collaborator that you’ve worked with throughout your career, and especially on this project. How have you been able to push each other as creatives? How beneficial was it having him as part of this process to bounce ideas off of?
Joe: That dude does not settle for mediocrity. Sometimes I’m being lazy and I’ll try to sneak one by him, but he always catches me and holds me to a high standard. And then on his end, I’m always throwing new sh*t at him that he has to try and figure out. How do we record this? How should this sound? And for videos, it’s like “How should this look? How can we best visually get this idea across?” Without him as part of the process, I would be nothing. Truly. You would not be interviewing me. I owe him everything. That’s why every time I see him, I strip naked so I can literally give him the clothes off my back and say “I believe these are yours.” He always tears up! And not just because my body is weird!

PC: Tell us about your new holiday release!
Joe: A few weeks ago, I wanted to release some funny Christmas songs. So I called up my producer pal from Funny Songs and Sketches, Yoo Soo Kim, sent him some ideas, he sent some music back to me, and after a lot of work on both our ends, we have created something I’m really proud of. It’s a three-song EP called Funny Christmas Songs. It’s got a little soul (“Greg’s Christmas Party”), a little punk (“I Don’t Know What Christmas Is”), and a little pop (“The Ice Skating Song”). I think people will dig the music and laugh at the jokes while still feeling those special holiday vibes!

PC: As we look ahead to 2024, what can fans expect from you?
Joe: I’m going to make a movie based on the life of Napoleon. I just hope no one has thought of that already! [laughs]

To keep up with Joe, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Listen to Funny Songs and Sketches today!