Aparna Nancherla just wants to give you some ideas to ponder. You can take them or leave them, she’s “just putting it out there” — though “it” is usually hilarious and when she explains, you’ll be glad it’s out there.
Nancherla’s newest Just Putting It Out There is the comic’s first standup album. It’s also the first for Bentzen Ball Records, comedian Tig Notaro’s new label.
In the past, Nancherla has written for Late Night With Seth Meyers and appeared on Inside Amy Schumer. Her comedic aptitude expands beyond standup, late night and sketch, as she also studied improvisation at various theaters including the Upright Citizens Brigade and The Groundlings. With comedic expertise to spare, it’s not surprising that she runs a terrific Twitter account, one that was put on TIME Magazine’s list of the best Twitter feeds in 2014.
Nancherla has been celebrated for her ability to talk about dealing with mental illness, specifically depression and social anxiety, in her standup routine.
“I would say depression is one of those things that sublets space in your head, so no matter how far away you get away from it, it exists as a somewhat permanent houseguest,” said Nancherla in an interview with Splitsider in March. “So while it can significantly impede my productivity and mood, it also very much contributes to my point-of-view and sense of humor.”
This point of view is clear in Just Putting It Out There. Many comedians utilize a self-deprecatory standpoint in performance, and Nancherla is no different. But Nancherla’s self-deprecation is a relatable one; through humor, she’s able to justify a lot of the fears people may face in their everyday lives.
After revealing that she has dealt with anxiety, she asks if there are any “stress-heads” in the audience and receives ample applause.
“I feel like if you’re not scared, you’re not paying attention,” she says.
Nancherla’s observations are told largely using dry humor. Many of her stories and jokes are the sort of things you could see yourself discussing with a friend. She relays the woes involved in trying to enjoy Netflix and the streaming service asking if she’s still watching. She talks about working from home, working in an office environment and living in New York City.
But don’t be fooled: Nancherla isn’t boring. Each observation on the struggles of everyday life comes with a sort of self-awareness reminiscent of someone who has thought a lot about their actions and the effects they may have. Even the names of the segments on the album are self-aware. One segment is called “I Bring Up the Weather,” while the ending segment, “Welp,” is mostly Nancherla rambling about how exactly to finish the album.
It would be easy to laud Nancherla just for her very existence. She is one of the very few well-known female stand-ups, and one of the even fewer of Indian descent (a fact she pokes fun at on the album when talking about an acting class she attended in which the only actors the class could compare her to were Mindy Kaling and Aziz Ansari).
But it would be ignorant to just label Nancherla as one of the best female comics or one of the best Indian comics. Though she wears these labels with pride, Nancherla is one of the very best up-and-coming comics, period.
If you need any proof, try Just Putting It Out There.
