Meet Erik Helewa | Stand Up Comic

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erik Helewa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erik, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursued stand-up comedy because, for a long time, I didn’t know how to connect with people. I grew up feeling like I wasn’t really seen or heard, and for years, I just kind of existed in the background like an extra in my own life. Then, one day, I wrote a joke. And that joke got a laugh. And suddenly, I wasn’t just existing… I was connecting.

Comedy became my way of making sense of things. It turned moments that once made me feel small into punchlines that made other people feel seen. It gave me a voice in a way nothing else ever had. I’m not doing stand-up because I thought, hey, I’d love to perform in basements for drink tickets. I’m doing it because it’s the thing that makes me feel the most alive. It’s the thing I was meant to do. And if I can take what I’ve been through and turn it into something that makes people laugh and maybe even feel a little less alone then I know I’m doing something right

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I grew up in a small town where stand-up wasn’t a career path, but humor was my way of making sense of the world. When life hit a rough patch, comedy became more than an outlet, it became a way to connect, to be heard, and to turn struggle into something funny.

Moving to NYC, I hit the grind, bombing in basements, crushing in clubs, and learning that the secret to comedy is SHOWING UP, no matter what. My style is clever, self-aware, and rooted in personal stories that turn chaos into connection. I bring the audience in, make them laugh, and if I they leave feeling a little lighter or like they’ve made a friend – I’ve done my job.

One thing people don’t always realize about stand-up is that, yes, it can be cutthroat but it doesn’t to be. Everyone wants to get to the top, and of course, you should hold your power and your space. But that doesn’t mean you can’t root for other people along the way.

A lesson I’ve learned along the way is that comedy isn’t just a competition. It’s a community. If a spot or a show is meant for you, it’ll be yours. And if it’s not? Then it’s someone else’s moment and that’s still something worth celebrating. There’s room for all of us, and the people who last in this business aren’t just the funniest, they’re the ones who lift each other up.

I want the world to know that life doesn’t have to be perfect, just funny!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d start with a hike at Runyon Canyon, where we can pretend we’re in a Nike ad while secretly gasping for air. Then, we’d quench our thirst with a refreshing lemonade from, well… Lemonade (because branding matters).

To balance out the chaos, we’d visit Lake Shrine to meditate and center ourselves. I find that meditation and breath work opens us up to greater powers.

Nighttime can only mean one thing—dancing in West Hollywood! I can’t dance, but I make an excellent decoy to make you look better in case you can’t either. That’s what friends are for!

Somewhere in between we’d hit up a taco truck, maybe a celebrity sighting, maybe a taco with a celebrity! Who knows? Maybe we should just move here.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Lia Farrington

Singer/songwriter musician

https://www.instagram.com/liafarrington?igsh=NWZocTZ3cmNlaDNy

Instagram: Erik_helewa