Meet informal. (Sam Richie) | DJ/Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with informal. (Sam Richie) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi informal., what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. We’ve all heard this one a million times, as a kid, and even in adulthood. I would argue that really the only way to accomplish something great, or to make a splash in any industry / endeavor is to be all in on that one thing.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I write, produce, and release music under the name “informal.”. Like any artist will tell you, everybody has their own unique perspective, the things that make them special, and their individual ways of expressing that. What excites me most about my music and my work is the overall feeling / meaning that encompasses everything I do. The entire idea behind “informal.” is to not take life too seriously, enjoy the little things, and just keep it casual. The world today can be so hectic and overwhelming. My goal is to take that “care-free” and casual attitude that I carry in my own life and bring that to others through the upbeat bouncy electronic music, the bright, colorful, and exciting imagery, and the personality that I share online and while performing. Of course it hasn’t always been easy to try and view life this way, I’ve been through my share of struggles and hardships in my quest for this career and in my personal life. But it helps to treat every day like a fresh start and be grateful for what we do have in this beautiful life. I think everybody, no matter how young or old, or where they’re at in their life, can benefit even just a little from the “informal.” lifestyle. I’m just happy to be here tbh lol.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m sure if you googled “what to do when visiting LA?” you would be hit with things like “see the hollywood sign, hollywood boulevard, venice boardwalk, santa monica pier”. While these things are all great I’m not a huge fan of long lines and gift shops. I feel like when I want to take someone somewhere I like, even if it’s another part of town or some cool beach, it’s always centered around where we’re gonna get a snack or a bev. I love heading up the coast to Malibu, so one day would def be a drive up the PCH stopping at Sunlife Organic for a 20 dollar smoothie, hitting the beach at the lagoon, a snack at Malibu Seafood or way up the PCH to Neptune’s Net. If we’re hanging out in Hollywood we’re definitely going to Sunset Grill for some food and drinks, hitting Barneys Beanery after for a beer and a couple games of pool. If it’s real late night maybe we hit Norms for the socal breakfast (my fav), or Joes pizza for a slice. I’m a big fan of cruising Mulholland drive, any time of the day. If its during the day we’re for sure stopping at the Laurel Canyon Country store for a sandwich and a cold drink. I’m also a big music guy (obvi) so we’ll probably end up at Sound Nightclub at least one night and maybe some sort of warehouse event downtown. A show at The Greek or the Hollywood Bowl is definitely an LA must-do. Lastly, the best tacos in LA (my opinion, dont come after me) are at Tacos El Primo on Sunset in Echo Park (literally just a guy with van, a grill, and a table), the Al Pastor is unreal.

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?
Definitely my dad. I get most of my drive, thirst for knowledge, and sense of adventure from him. He always told me anything was possible and to just go out there and have fun at whatever you do. Try everything, say yes to every opportunity. My dad worked every job you can imagine, from driving trucks, working on a fishing boat, to working for the airlines, building houses, selling houses, to even owning a fruit bouquet store. That willingness to try his hand at everything, and have fun doing it, definitely inspired me to put my everything into music and chase this dream. He had an unmatched sense of adventure that I try to carry in my own life everyday.

Website: https://solo.to/informal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/informal.mp3/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/informalmp3

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=informal.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyRqaPBE-1Nj-qJfjGcZkpQ

Image Credits
Ronnie Loyd