Released late last year, Halifax-based comedian Luba Magnus’s sophomore album, Are You Okay? gets its title from an odd encounter with a social media follower.
This second album is about capturing what I’ve been working on for the past couple of years. It’s a collection of silly, thematic bits that touch on love, nature, and being comfortable with being strange. – Luba Magnus
“It’s a joke about someone sliding into my DMs after seeing a photo of me deflating a beach ball, and they wanted to pay me to do more of that, which I didn’t even know was a thing,” she says. “My boyfriend, who’s very sweet, asked if I was okay, and I replied, ‘Of course I’m okay—I’m rich; this is what I do now.'”
While Magnus thought it a bizarre moment worthy of the album’s title, she also saw the phrase resonate beyond the joke. “It’s reflective of how we’re all just checking in with each other these days,” she says.
A departure from her debut album Baba Luba in 2022, Are You Okay? reflects a natural evolution in her creative process. “The first album had to be the perfect representation of who I am,” she says. “This second album is about capturing what I’ve been working on for the past couple of years. It’s a collection of silly, thematic bits that touch on love, nature, and being comfortable with being strange.”
Known for her imaginative approach within the alt-comedy scene, Magnus incorporates elements beyond traditional stand-up, including cartoons, songs, and visuals. “If you watch the special, you’ll see I like to experiment,” she said. “I call my comedy surreal, quirky, and female-forward—probably not what people are expecting.”
Both of Magnus’s albums have received critical acclaim south of the border, with Paste Magazine listing her debut album in their Best Comedy Albums of 2022 and National Public Radio’s Bullseye With Jesse Thorn choosing both Baba Luba and Are You Okay? in its End of Year Stand-Up Comedy Spectacular.
Magnus credits the recognition with helping to amplify her voice in the United States, a rare feat for Canadian comedians. “There are only so many opportunities in Canada, and there are even fewer now that Just For Laughs is gone,” she says. “There are fewer and fewer options, so any ounce of recognition we can get is spectacular.”
Originally from Port Colborne, Ontario, Magnus’s journey into comedy was unorthodox. Growing up in a small town with comedy-loving parents, she didn’t realize stand-up was an option until a friend invited her to an open mic. “I had no insight into how people get started,” she says. “When I moved to Toronto, I gave it a shot—and here we are.”
Now based in Halifax, Magnus has embraced the East Coast’s supportive and tight-knit comedy scene. “I moved here in 2022 for a better quality of life,” she says. “There’s more opportunity for longer headline sets than Toronto, where the focus is often on a tight seven [minute] showcases.”
Magnus also finds joy in the region’s audiences. “There’s a smaller market for surreal comedy here, but it exists,” she says. “And the people who are into it are pretty cool.”
Looking ahead, Magnus is keeping busy with upcoming projects. She’ll perform at the Hubcap Comedy Festival in Moncton on January 30 for CBC Radio’s Laugh Out Loud and is organizing an International Women’s Day show on March 8 in Halifax. “It’s my second year putting on this show,” she says. “Half the proceeds go to a local organization supporting women and children.”
Magnus continues to delight audiences with her signature humour while carving out a distinct place in the comedy world. “Comedy is fleeting, but it’s what I love—and I’m happy to be doing it,” she says.
Are You Okay? is available now on streaming platforms and YouTube. You can also learn more about Luba Magnus on her website, follow her comedy journey, and find information on upcoming shows on Instagram and TikTok.