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Henry Koperski is often shot in the background, just out of focus.
The co-writer and accompanist for two of theboldest and most exciting comedy specials of the yearCatherine CohensThe Twist …?
And yet, he arguably had one of the best track records in comedy out of anybody in 2022.
So where can you find Koperski now that his career in musical comedy is talking off?
In Los Angeles releasing solo experimental-jazz records under the nameHenki Skidu.
tour, hell releaseLucia, his solo album as Henki Skidu.
He would say, I have an idea for a big Barbra Streisand ballad.
Id sit at the piano and go off the vibe he gave me, and hed try things too.
Hes amazing at spitting stuff out and seeing what sticks, which is how you discover really funny stuff.
After we did that a bit, wed take what felt good and construct a song around that.
You mentioned that he would come with, say, a Barbra Streisand ballad.
How much do references play into the song?Its a starting point.
Its easier to come up with ideas when youre in a framework.
I dont think anyone that watches this special will recognize any of the songs as a Barbra Streisand ballad.
But one of them started out like that.
Which one?The title song, Have You Heard of Christmas?
Thats how I always thought of it.
I wonder if he agrees.
Its like People or Evergreen lush chords, but with a pop flavor thats grand and sappy.
Then theres also your Hottest Who in Whoville song, which is Mariah Careyinspired.Yeah.
Im curious about where you see those references sitting between parody and pastiche.
Are you parodying the people youre invoking?It was never making fun of it.
We just wanted a song that fit in that world.
And then Matt has a hilarious idea of this cringe character.
Theyre kind of separate.
The other special that youre involved in this year is Catherines special.
Then Id play sparkly, and she would try stuff from her journal.
With Catherine, its just vibes.
Well, first of all, its awesome that youre detecting a Henry Koperski sound in all of them.
How would you describe that sound?I dont know.
My favorite music is classical and jazz, which none of these artists really do.
I havent examined it.
The Catherine World and the Matt World, everyones world feels so different.
Ive never thought about this.
Ive never realized how much of an influence all that had on me.
I relearned to play piano doing all that Kerrigan and Lowdermilk and early Pasek and Paul stuff.
Like anEdges-pop in thing.Yeah, I lovedEdgesandDogfight.
I thought they were brilliant.
Why is that style of music a good fit for comedians?All those songs are story songs.
I love all musical comedy, but Ive never gotten into the Adam Sandler style.
The listener should never relax and say,I know what happens.
Theres a moment in the special when Matt acknowledges your relationship.
Im not an actor.
It usually helps land their bit.
I was like,Wow, theyre doing a great job.
Theyre serving the show with their skill set, and thats what theyre there to do.
Thats just something I get to enjoy for myself.
And when the working relationship is not good, that is something you just have to move on from.
While in L.A., youve put out new music as Henki Skidu.
Is this your primary project right now?I am steering the car toward making this my primary project.
I left musical comedy a few years ago, and these projects are finishing up.
Ive been doing regular music directing for regular, non-comedic musical artists.
That has been healing because they have more respect for music and understand me more.
I feel like Im actually collaborating with people and not serving other peoples personas.
When did you know you wanted to leave musical comedy?2019 was when I first started to know.
We touched on this before, but I wasnt fully answering.
And it just hurt.
It happened more than once.
That felt so good.
But then theres this other side where I didnt feel as connected to it.
I didnt feel like I was discovering something new or creating something with someone.
It felt like I was pressing play on iTunes.
It was so bizarre.
When I went back in 2022, it was all 21-year-old kids Id never seen before.
It was a very different vibe.
With Matts special, its Christmas, and the songs are about Christmas.
They feel like theyll be timeless; theyre not from a specific scene.
It doesnt feel like its changed.
I knowyou thoughtthe web connection forgot to invite you to the premiere party for Matts special.Yeah.
What does that bring up?This project was feeling really good.
Then as it got closer to release …
I havent seen it yet because I havent received a screener.
I received a cookie with Matts face on it in the mail, which was fun.
I just felt out of the loop.
It did bring those sad feelings back.
Youre channeling a persona in both.
I mostly want to feel out the space.
The music should be intangible.
It should be a different experience every time you listen to it.
With the personas I helped develop in comedy, it started out that way.
Once it becomes commodified, then I guess thats the difference.
This is what we sell.
Repeat, repeat, repeat.
We all understand the feeling of spending four hours a day in our practice room in our 20s.
Theres just more genuine respect and a real interest in co-creation.
Its about getting the vibrations that are coming from inside you outside of you.
I feel like I will perform better because of it.
And I havent always felt that way performing as Henry Koperski.
And thats a waste of time for me and anyone listening.
I still work with a few people, but Im not interested in it as much anymore.
I dont care about it.
That has nothing to do with the people or anything.
And I will always appreciate that.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
