Kev Orkian – The Interview
Hello Kev, It’s a real treat to have you here today, thank you for taking the time to talk to us.
You’re welcome, it’s a pleasure to be here!!!
Before we begin, I would first like to congratulate you on your recent success with ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, you did an exceptional job and we could not have been more proud of how far you were able to go on the show.
The show was a great experience. To be selected from over 100,000 people to the last 40 acts was a great honor.
In my personal opinion, I think Simon Cowell had already made up his mind before you even took the stage, your first act fooled him totally and I don’t think he ever got over it. What’s your opinion? Do you feel like your final act before the judges went over their heads or do you think you made a blunder in your routine?
In my humble opinion, the show is not really a talent show, but more of a great TV show. I auditioned with so many talented people that didn’t even get through the second round. Yet a man just chopping wood on stage accompanied to a backing track or another dressed as a leprechaun prancing around the stage to no avail got through to perform live on stage in front of millions. After my second audition in front of the judges, I felt that the show hadn’t exposed my act enough for the audiences at home to understand the character I was portraying. They had edited my act so much; it didn’t really make sense on the night. I also believe, not signing to their management had a small part to play in my being eliminated in the semi Finals. I have done that same routine on stage for many years and know it works, however on the night of the performance; I was hit with Simon Cowell calling me a “one trick pony” just as I walked on stage, which confused me, and with a cocktail of loud buzzes from the judges, this ruined the pace of the routine. So instead I finished off with a piano boogie, knowing this would be my last appearance on the show.
Same ol politics always seem to get in the way, it’s really a shame. You’re no stranger to fame or large stages, but what’s it like to be standing there on national TV as a semi finalist on Britain’s Got Talent?
Like any performance I do, the buzz you get is second to none…It’s the most amazing place in the world to be for a short period of time. To know you will be performing in front of Millions didn’t even cross my mind, on the night I was still performing to the people in the theater…
Had you auditioned for BGT in previous years? And if not, what made you go for it this year?
I had never auditioned for BGT before, due to other projects always clashing with the filming dates. My management decided this year; we should do it for the exposure even though we knew in the back of our minds that comedians don’t really win these kinds of shows.
We have a clip here, Let’s take a look at your first performance in front of the BGT judges.
That was just awesome to see and experience! When did you first realize that you loved to make people laugh?
I can’t really put a time on it, however, as far back as my childhood I have always been a class clown and joke teller. It always made me feel good to see people laughing at something I had prepared. That feeling has grown with me over the years…To see total strangers in fits of laughter at a routine I have prepared is one of the best feelings in the world.
As an Armenian kid, growing up in London England, were you surrounded by the Armenian culture? Did you grow up in an Armenian community or did you have to work hard to retain your culture, language and love of your heritage?
I thank my parents for my love of the Armenian Heritage. The moment I was able to speak, which was a few hours after I was born, I learned Armenian. I was taken to Armenian Sunday school from the age of six and joined the Armenian Dance troupe, at the age of twelve. Something all Armenian children are expected to do. Living in the UK, Armenians are few and far between, so knowing other Armenians was a treat and my family surrounded themselves with friends from Armenian Church and Community Center. Retaining my heritage has never been hard for me as we grew up Armenian in Britain and not the other way round.
You started to play the piano at age 4, composed your first pieces at 12 and by the age of 15, passed all eight piano grades. Considering how serious of an accomplishment that is and how much discipline it takes to achieve that, did you ever think comedy would play a huge role with your music?
Playing the piano was always my mum’s dream, which my sister and I have as our career now. I was always encouraged by my parents to practice on the piano, however this wasn’t always an easy task with me, and mum did have her fair share of stress when it came to my daily practicing. After a while piano became a very big part of my life, and practicing became second nature. I started trying to outdo myself in technique and style, and the more I learned the more I wanted…The comedy was always part of me, and this with the piano became a natural progression into Piano Stand-up. I never knew how big a role this would play in my life and still don’t.
On stage, your performances tend to mix it all up, acting, dancing, singing, playing the keys, physical comedy, language, culture and on top of all that, it still needs to be funny. What’s the most challenging part of your routine?
The most challenging part about my act is me…I am very critical about what I do, and if a routine doesn’t get the response I believe it should have, I am rehearsing the act over and over till I get it right. If a piece of music I play has a note wrong this upsets me greatly and plays on my mind for days.
Your performances are always packed full of emotion, your delivery is second to none, what excites you the most about what you do on stage?
It’s all about the unknown and the excitement performing the routines I have written and rehearsed. Ad-libbing on stage is a major rush, and hearing the audience’s response to what I do is overwhelming…
Do you write your own material? And if so, where does all the inspiration come from?
I write everything I perform; from the music to the routines…My inspirations come from everyday life, and past childhood experiences growing up in an Armenian family. Veteran Stand-up comics like Victor Borge, Dudley Moore and Les Dawson are also big inspirations of mine. Watching their techniques and styles have always influenced my performances…
Do your routines come to you in unusual ways and places? or is it more deliberate where you make a decision to write something?
The ideas come completely out of the blue. A piece of music I’m listening to can influence a routine, or watching something on TV triggers off an idea for a joke…there really isn’t a moment during the day that goes by, without something going through my mind about what would be funny or clever to perform on stage…
In your opinion, what aspect of writing or performing a comedy piece makes an act truly memorable and funny?
Most performances can be replicated with other comics or musicians, so what I try to do is write material that’s about me and my talents. Anyone can copy Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk, but there was only one man who could sell the style, even now he’s left us.
What routine from your set do you enjoy performing the most?
I don’t really have a routine I enjoy above others. Playing the piano has always been my first love, so writing a song or a piece of music has always had a special place in my performances…
Every stand-up comic has gone through an ooops moment on stage, what does it feel like when an audience doesn’t “get it” and how do you quickly turn that hurdle around?
When you first start out as a comic and do a routine that doesn’t go as planned, your inexperience gets the better of you, however like anything the more you practice your craft the better you can handle any hurdle thrown at you.
It takes a certain strong willed person to do what you do, were you ever shy or self conscious or have you always been confident on stage?
I have never been shy or self conscious…surprise surprise!!! Nothing quite comes close to performing on stage in front of a live audience…
Who were your biggest influences growing up and why?
My influences were always those performers that didn’t need to be funny or great, they just were. I grew up on Charlie Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy, just there facial expressions and physical comedy always appealed to me. I would laugh so hard and yet they hadn’t really done anything. Benny Hill, would smile to the camera and you knew exactly what he was thinking, or Peter Sellers who pretty much performed in the Movie “The Party” without saying more than 10 words and yet, had you in tears of laughter with his persona…that’s a rare commodity amongst performers…My mum however is my biggest influence…just repeating some of her antics on everyday life, has had people rolling in the aisles…she has always made me respect the god given talent I have.
You have toured the world, made millions laugh out loud, performed for Royalty and given so much of your time and talent to charity. Are you at a place in your life where you can say you are completely satisfied with what you do?
I’m never fully satisfied with anything I do. I believe you can always outdo yourself by being better, funnier and greater in everything you put your mind too…I’m too judgmental on myself to ever be satisfied…
This August, you will take your ‘Illegal Tour’ to the Edinburgh Fringe, appearing at the Underbelly, in what will be your debut appearance at the festival. Can you give us an inside scoop of what we can expect from that show?
My show consists of Music, comedy and singing, with some dancing and audience participation…It’s packed with stories about my family and friends and impressions of Elton john…I don’t want to give too much away, however I do promise to give the audience something different.
ok, it’s time for our Armenian Pulse Fun Facts, Without re-arranging, What’s the top 5 tracks you have on your ipod or mp3 player right now?
I actually don’t own an Ipod or MP3 player, how sad am I? The Top 5 tracks on my itunes are Chicago’s inspiration, Bee Gees Beethovens 5th, Aretha Franklins Respect, Elton John’s Saturday, & Billy Joel’s Bo Jongles.
Who and when was the first big named act you saw in concert?
Believe or not, Spice girls in Wembley as Emma Bunton was my college friend.
Biggest celebrity crush growing up?
Kylie Minogue
Tell us something most people would be shocked to find out about you.
I suffer from ADHD which is a hyper active disorder, so I’m always juggling the highs as well as the lows. Due to this I suffer from depression at times as well as insomnia…so most nights my sleep pattern is no longer than 4 hours.
It’s perhaps a side effect of your amazing talent, my wife reeled off a long list of other comedians that suffer from depression among other things. Are you currently single or married?
Married to a wonderful, very patient lady named Michelle.
Favorite Armenian food?
Anything with Lamb…and I adore Pilav.
Mmmmm Pilav! lol Well, thank you Kev for giving us your time. We wish you nothing but the best for your career and your upcoming tour. I hope to see you in Los Angeles very soon!
Thank you to all who continue to support what I do, and I hope to see you guys later in the year with my one man show in LA. Much respect to Armenian Pulse, love you guys!!!
We love you too Kev, Thank you very much!
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Make sure you catch Kev Orkian’s ‘The Illegal Tour’ this Summer!
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I love you kev Orkian, congratulations, hope to se you in Canada <3
soooo funny, this is great guys
Great interview…as always Harout…Kev is like a breath of fresh air everytime we watch him on youtube…I wish he would also come to Canada…I am happy his roots are important to him…that is the only thing that keeps us together as a Nation…
and I believe the pilaf he was referring too was Wedding pilaf..otherwise known a Khouzou ichi…everyone who love rice loves that…my best to both of you..
really i like what you are doing …and even am from sweden i was follow you in British got more talent.
anyway i hope one day i can see your showes