People Are Convinced Arj Barker Is Breaking Up With Them In His Latest Show

The title of Arj Barker’s returning show, We Need To Talk, is ominous. It's the phrase you hear when you’re about to receive bad news – usually in the realm of dating and relationships. Some people have gone so far as to ask Barker point blank, “Are you gonna break up with us?” 

“It sounds like a break-up conversation or other things, it's usually bad news, right?” Barker begins, on the phone from a run of Adelaide Fringe shows after staying up playing music until the early hours of the morning. 

Barker says he doesn’t remember if anyone has ever used the line on him. “I think in terms of relationships it's possible, but I've probably been ghosted more than had actual mature discussions. I've said it to someone. The problem is when you say it right away they know it's gonna happen.” 

“Ultimately it's all gags and it's all about having a good time and getting laughs, but there's a few interesting points that I make."

We Need To Talk traverses developments in Barker’s life – he got married in mid-2017 – as well as the direction he sees humankind moving in, particularly in regards to technology and how we relate to each other: “There’s one section early on that's about how technology's getting better but we're actually, I think, maybe getting worse. 

“Then there's also a part later in the show about how people aren't particularly honest with each other, and especially with children: people they just love their kids too much to be honest really. And so I propose radical honesty for children, and it's pretty absurd because I don't have kids, so it's pretty ridiculous that I can be the one giving advice.”

While feedback for the most part has been positive, Barker says one attendee in particular thought he was being too “cynical”. 

“I talk about how it's nonsense to tell a child that you can be anything you want when you grow up – you can do whatever you want – 'cause I just point out that there's many other factors involved, like their ability level and physics and all this stuff.

“I think he felt like I was being discouraging because he was an ‘emerging artist’, we'll say. He thought I was trying to kill his dream, which I wasn't at all, but I was just talking about the realities. You can try to do anything in life but you may not succeed necessarily, y'know?” 

Still, while it sounds like the subject matter could get a little dark, “ultimately it's all gags and it's all about having a good time and getting laughs, but there's a few interesting points that I make. If I make an interesting point, so be it, but my priority is to entertain people and make them laugh".

The adopted Aussie – the Californian comic divides his time between Australia and the United States – toured the show regionally across Australia last year, and even took it to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He sees it as being in its most polished form now. 

While he’s not necessarily suggesting punters should come again, "for anyone that's on the fence, this show is in its most ­— it's truly evolved and it's in a very tight, I'd almost say remastered, condition. So if you haven't seen it, it's definitely the time". 

“When I first put out a show, a year later it's evolved a lot. It just has, y’know, 'cause eventually something might bug me and I'll think, 'That joke, it never does as well as it should so maybe I'll drop it and replace it with one that works better.'” 

Barker’s also taken the show to North America in recent months, but he doesn’t see too many differences between international audiences. No matter where in the world he’s performing, “people sit there and they laugh and have a great time. I do my job and I dance around like a monkey and everyone goes home happy hopefully”.  

If a fan was to look up Barker’s Instagram page hoping to find info about his comedy, they might come away more bemused than informed – the comic largely uses the social media platform to indulge his other keen interest: nature photography. 

“I've always liked the outdoors a lot – my grandma would always take us to natural places, so thanks to her we learned to appreciate it pretty good. I've always liked nature. I've loved animals my whole life. When I was a kid my favourite book was called For The Love Of Monkeys and it was a coffee table book made up of monkey photographs. And reptiles too. I was just one of those kids that loved animals. 

“Then I like photography too. Like most people, I had various cameras throughout the eras: Polaroid, Instamatic, all that stuff, and then I got into digital cameras. Eventually those two interests I wouldn't say collided, that sounds a little dramatic, but they fit well with each other. And now I have a slightly better camera with real lenses – an adult camera – and I take it out in the woods sometimes.” 

Barker admits his Instagram presence may be confusing for comedy fans, but he says he’s not worried about that. “I can probably use it more effectively to promote myself but I just can't be bothered and I like trying to take beautiful photos, and that's just a hobby that I enjoy, so why not?”