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On ‘No Worries If Not,’ Riki Lindhome rewrites her hero’s journey to motherhood

BBG News

Originally, Riki Lindhome didn’t plan to perform solo. Starting from 2007, she was known for being part of Garfunkel and Oates, a comedy duo with Kate Micucci that was both comedic and raunchy. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, Micucci took on writing children’s music due to becoming a new mother, causing Lindhome to reassess her own journey. At first, she felt apprehensive, but Lindhome, who tends to find the positive in all situations, eventually decided to embrace this new chapter.

Previously, it needed to resonate with both of us, as Lindhome shared with The Times. This then led me to ponder, ‘What is unique to just myself‘?’

The solution was clearly within her grasp all along. At 46 years old, Lindhome, who embarked on her professional acting career in the early 2000s with minor roles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Gilmore Girls,” and has since been seen on “The Big Bang Theory,” “New Girl,” and “Wednesday,” had endured a lengthy, frequently disheartening fertility odyssey.

Her journey began when she was 34, opting for egg freezing – an experience that inspired her song “Frozen Lullaby” (Emmy-nominated) and was depicted on the Garfunkel and Oates show, airing on IFC in 2014 for one season. She recalls, “I believe we were pioneers in portraying authentic egg-freezing storylines, even creating the necessary props from my IVF drug photos since we couldn’t find them at the prop house.

After penning down the remaining chapters of my fertility journey, I transformed it into a thought-provoking one-woman musical titled “Dead Inside.” Last year, this piece premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and is now playing semi-monthly at the Elysian Theater in L.A. As I fine-tuned the show across comedy clubs and smaller stages, I also discovered that I was crafting a solo comedy album. Now, my debut album, “No Worries If Not,” has been released on April 4.

11 tracks make up the album by Lindhome, who is married to Fred Armisen and collaborates with Nicole Row, Eric Jackowitz, and production group Polyglam. The album follows Lindhome’s complex path towards motherhood while humorously addressing midlife challenges. For example, in the song “Middle Age Love,” styled after Barry White, Lindhome jokes about sex after turning 40 (“Make love to me like a wild animal, if that animal is a turtle / You can make love inside me, it’s alright – I’m infertile”). Additionally, in the track “Don’t Google Mommy,” Lindhome imagines her future child searching for information about her online (“Because mommy writes comedy songs that are somewhat explicit”).

In addition to the tracks featured in “Dead Inside”, Lindhome’s collection called “Lindhome” contains a few more songs. One of these, titled “90 Percent Sure,” is a duet with comedian Ken Marino that reflects on Lindhome’s past breakup with an ex-boyfriend who wasn’t certain about having more children together. After facing difficulties with natural conception, a miscarriage, and expensive IVF treatments, their relationship ended when her ex expressed uncertainty about wanting another child. (He already had two kids from a previous relationship.) In the song, Lindhome humorously expresses potential revenge for his ambiguity, but reassures listeners that it’s not something that could ever actually happen due to his lack of full commitment. Another track, “Infertile Princess,” sees Lindhome adopting the perspective of a Disney princess, commenting on how easy it was for characters like Pocahontas and Ariel to conceive, when in reality, Lindhome struggles with infertility.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d say that while Lindhome continues to maintain her unique singsong, slightly sweet-and-sour tone, the subject matter in her work has evolved to mirror a more complex phase of life. For example, Garfunkel and Oates crafted explicit, satirical pop songs about awkward and cringe-worthy sex, religious loopholes (you know what you know), and smug pregnant women, among other topics. However, Lindhome pushes the formula even further by getting incredibly candid (yet still bitingly witty) about the social isolation that comes with trying – and struggling – to conceive.

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She comments, “There’s an overwhelming amount of blame,” she says. “When I was sorting through everything, many people immediately offered advice on what I was doing wrong. Even though they meant well, it made me feel as if the fault was mine. This should not be the case. A more appropriate response would be, ‘I’m sorry that’s happening to you. How are you?’

Lindhome explains, ‘The advice I received left me feeling overloaded and unable to share my experiences with others.’ Feeling extremely alone as a result, Lindhome wondered, ‘Where is the balance?’ At that moment, she decided, ‘I will not allow myself to feel ashamed about this.’

When readying to release “Dead Inside,” Lindhome wasn’t completely convinced that the song or its album would resonate with audiences who hadn’t experienced fertility issues. This is why she titled the album “No Worries If Not.” In her own words, “My previous music was more about appealing to the masses, not negatively so. It was just for a broader audience. But this one focuses on menopause and fertility trauma – topics that I feel, if you don’t appreciate them, I can understand why!

To Lindhome’s astonishment, diverse groups showed immense appreciation for “Dead Inside” and its music, offering overwhelmingly favorable responses. “Initially, when I began [performing] in Edinburgh,” she shares, “I was somewhat taken aback, as it involved numerous women sharing their stories, which moved me deeply.” Furthermore, it was constantly raining there, making her frequently stand in the rain, embracing and weeping with people.

Additionally, Lindhome was surprised to find that audiences she didn’t anticipate connecting with have resonated with her material. “Straight men without children were among those who felt represented, saying things like ‘I grasp the feeling of being lost and not knowing my way out.’ It struck me then, ‘Oh yes, that is universal.’ I was discussing it in terms of fertility, but it seems everyone can relate to feeling as if they lack a crucial key to open a door they desperately need.

Lindhome’s story concludes with a joyful note as well. In March 2022, Lindhome became a mother through surrogacy, using donated sperm and eggs. Initially planning to raise her son alone, she rekindled an old friendship with Fred Armisen during the filming of Netflix’s “Wednesday” in Romania. The summer following Keaton’s birth, they got married.

Lindhome expresses that her life underwent a significant transformation in a short span of time. She found it amusing because she fell in love on set, had a baby, and experienced numerous events all at once, leaving her to remark, “This was so fast.” Her co-star Jamie McShane likened this rapid change to the laws of physics, stating that just as one can lose everything in an instant, one can also gain everything within two weeks. This, he suggested, is akin to equal and opposite reactions – a pace perfectly suited for Lindhome, according to scientific principles.

Moving forward, “Dead Inside” is being refined further by Lindhome, who plans to spend at least another year perfecting it. (“Dead Inside” will be staged in New York on April 3, Austin on April 12, and back in L.A. on April 23.) According to Lindhome, each performance brings new adjustments. Her aim is to extend its run to off-Broadway or off-off-Broadway. After that, she may consider filming it.

Currently, Lindhome anticipates that “No Worries If Not” will encourage people to find humor in situations beyond their control. She expresses her desire for the audience to feel understood. When she listens to comedy music, she simply wants to enjoy herself. And when attending her show, she aims to make them feel less isolated, particularly women who have experienced similar circumstances. She wants them to feel that it’s not their fault. Lindhome believes this is true for most aspects of life. A lot depends on luck … but one should keep moving forward.

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2025-04-08 00:01

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