What Ashwyn Singh Made This Year

We asked Canadians, "What did you make this year?"

This is Ashwyn Singh's story.

Ashwyn Singh, based in Toronto, arguably has one of the toughest jobs out there—performing stand-up comedy. His professional journey—which is part creative artistry and part knowing your brand—started when he went to an open mic night. Instead of performing music, as he had intended, he ended up doing comedy, and that's where it all began.

Originally from New Delhi, India, Ashwyn moved to Canada in 2014 when he was 19. Themes of immigration and cultural identity pervade his comedy, including talking about his family back in New Delhi, who play a significant role in his performances.

“Your family's expectations can fall on you like a ton of bricks. In collectivist cultures, like India, other people's expectations of you are about as important as your expectations of yourself. There's no real separation between the two. Pursuing your dream in North America is a little easier because culture dictates you follow your individual aspirations."

Ashwyn's parents are admittedly anxious about him being successful—or anyone being successful—in the field of comedy. They had never been to Canada, so Ashwyn recently brought them here to tour some of the biggest cities where he was performing. The experience made them realize they'd rather him be happy by his definition of success than theirs.

For more on the family and cultural dynamics that fuel Ashwyn's material, watch the full video below.

"The value of creativity is a premium. I want to establish that when I open my mouth, I'm saying something that means something to me. And the next hour is going to be different from the one before it. That's creativity."

His approach seems to be working. Ashwyn has performed shows across Canada and India and opened for notable comedians like Zarna Garg and Sammy Obeid. His Desi Translations standup series has more than 50 million views on Instagram and TikTok, earning him a spotlight at the prestigious Winnipeg Comedy Festival and on CBC's hit show The Debaters.

"I'm a comedian that happens to be an immigrant, not an immigrant that happens to be a comedian. You have to break out of people's definitions of you and that's when you can reach true success as an artist."

Being new to Canada, Ashwyn is also new to starting a business here, and he's not alone, 34% of business owners are newcomers to Canada. For Ashwyn, it's about building a thriving comedy business, which means he has to manage all aspects—from bookings to production to marketing to content creation.

There's also the tax aspect. Ashwyn uses TurboTax to help guide him in his small business tax filings. Since he's considering incorporating his business, he also consults with a friend who is an accountant.

Another part of Ashwyn's business is sharing his knowledge with other emerging comedians and sole proprietors. Here's one bit of information he feels is important:

"I learned the business of stand-up from scratch. A lot of what I say is funny because I learned it as a skill—more so than it being a natural talent. The tenacity of standup is very failure-oriented. So, when you start, you have to find something that people will know you for; in other words, find your niche but also explore other things to break away from people's expectations of you."

What's Ashwyn most proud of? "This year, I made stand-up comedy that means something to me."