“I didn’t want to be like a normal person and just ask my comedian friends to hang out. I want the attention, so I decided I needed cameras and microphones,” says David Í Dali in the introduction to his new “Serious Comedians Podcast”. He is sitting in a small corner of the city library opposite comedian Arnór Daða, who has suppressed a smile. “It’s not about being funny; if we make you laugh or smile, it’s completely accidental.” That’s when the couple, who refer to Reykjavík as the “Las Vegas of the North,” manage to crack each other up.

Podcasting couch

Originally from the Faroe Islands, David not only brings “kilk”—a traditional Faroese concoction of coke and milk that he swears by—to the table, he also offers a different take on Iceland’s comedy life. “I want to talk to the comedians who I think are underrated in the scene. We used to have a comedy club, but that’s no more so it can be very difficult for comedians to [find] any way to connect with people,” says David. After the pandemic claimed Reykjavík’s only comedy club, Secret Cellar, the stand-up scene in Iceland has become fragmented. “After Covid, a lot of comedians who used to be at home in the secret cellar found themselves homeless, so we started open mics in some other places,” explains David. “It’s not quite the same but it’s still fun and everyone’s just waiting for someone to start the next comedy club.”

Image after Art Picnic

Now that the open mic is back (thankfully) interest in stand-up shows seems to be increasing, given the number of comedy shows in downtown Reykjavík. The Serious Comedians Podcast aims to provide yet another piece of the puzzle that makes up this dynamic community. Out of influence Reflecting on the evolution of the comedy scene, David comments on how performers working in English broadened their appeal: “For me, English is the language of humor, French is the language of love, and Danish is the language of getting away with cultural genocide. .” Although the humor in Iceland might have been a little Americanized, according to David, the benefit is that tourists and traveling comedians can more easily participate, as well as people who have moved to Iceland and still want to joke. The result is a bunch of different voices from a variety of backgrounds – all appealing to a wide audience.

Another nature

Despite what the podcast title suggests, humor tends to creep in, no matter how serious the comedians try to be. “I just can’t help myself,” says David, admitting that trying to ban comedy from a podcast about comedians talking to each other might be a flawed premise. Both Arnór Daði and Þórhallur Þórhallsson, the guest of the second episode, easily slip into a more comedic tone even though they discuss more serious topics. Indeed, the repeated reminder “This is not a joke podcast!” has all the makings of a future running gag. At the end of the day, as David points out, “We do it because we enjoy comedy and it’s something you can throw into anything that makes everything better. It becomes like a tick — it’s second nature.” When David and his guests talk about their unique paths, overcoming their doubts and anxieties and finding their voices on stage, it’s still interesting to watch. Natural sarcasm and rumors of accidental self-poisoning with Nesquik and moonshine (in Thorhall’s case) are a bonus.

Image after Art Picnic

Open the microphone

Now that in-person shows are possible again, stand-up shows may be on their way to becoming as common as karaoke. Events such as the Underground Open-Mic at The Dubliner on Tuesdays allow comedians to practice their comedy, while The Mystery Mic at Gauknum presents a pre-planned skit as part of the evening’s entertainment. Funnily enough, a busy podcast in comparison can be much more chaotic, according to David. “I don’t know what I’m going to say, sometimes not even while I’m saying it.” You never know what the other person is going to bring to the table, but I have access to a lot of great comedians. I’m sure it will be a good show.”

You can check out David Í Dali’s ‘Serious Comedians Podcast’ on YouTube or follow him on Instagram (@davdavhaha).