Meet Alli Ramirez | DJ, Visual Artist, Entrepreneur

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

Hi Alli, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
A major influence of my journey to start my own business was the rave/music festival scene. If you have never been to one I highly recommend going because it is truly life changing. It provided me a safe space to come home to myself at a very early age. It put me on a path of self discovery in the most unexpected ways. Having a place to be completely yourself, to connect with others in a deep and meaningful way, and to find peace in the present moment; really puts you in a different headspace. I would lose myself in the music, dancing the night away, surrounded by people who were vibing on the same wavelength of love and self expression. I was always in awe of the DJs; orchestrating the energy of the crowd with their carefully selected music that would transport you to another space and time. After going to many festivals and concerts, my inspiration grew into the desire to be the one orchestrating the vibes on stage instead of just being in the crowd enjoying the show.

The people who came into my life through these experiences helped push me to the next levels of wanting to be more involved in the scene as a DJ myself. I was first introduced to learning how to DJ through someone I dated but he was never really able to teach me so I ended up shelving the idea until a couple of years later when I met someone else who was able to help me break through. He had invested in the equipment and I finally had access to the tools I needed to start practicing on a consistent basis. After maybe a year, I felt the itch to seek opportunities to play out in public; to dip my toes into performing live. This ultimately led me to joining my first collective which granted me some pretty awesome opportunities to play iconic venues in LA such as the Avalon Hollywood and Exchange LA, as well as on KXLU college radio station. Unfortunately I had a falling out with the group and took another two year hiatus followed by the pandemic so I wasn’t doing too much with my music dreams at that point. I didn’t lose hope though, I’ve always had this innate feeling/knowing that I was going to find my place in the scene. I eventually felt ready to put myself out there again and went to a DJ competition, where I ended up meeting my most recent partner. He was an extremely talented DJ and producer himself and had already had some success releasing music on some pretty awesome labels. He really inspired me to dive back into music, and reignited the passion I thought I might have lost. With his encouragement and support I jumped back into deejaying and started getting booked frequently on the local circuit.

During this time I had been managing a small retail store specializing in streetwear and art. My partner had showed me these disco ball planters someone had been creating. They were super cute and I thought it would be awesome to have their products in our store. Unfortunately when I reached out their price point was just too high and the production turn around time wasn’t going to work for us. This led to us creating our own brand, Disco Plants. I started creating disco ball planters, small batches of merch, and took the risk of seeing what would happen. It went way better than I could have ever imagined. The times we went to vend we would sell out of all the planters. People who bought live plants would send me photos of how much the plants grew, excited to be a successful plant parent. It was super rewarding to see how much joy something so small could bring to people. The company ended up blowing up which was amazing but also extremely overwhelming, it was the first time I ever tried running a business, let alone my own business. This led to me switching gears from Disco Plants as a product to a production company. We Vibe Music was officially born.

I had the idea pop up many years before its actualization, one day it just came to me and I jumped on instagram and saved the handle. I knew it was going to be something I just didn’t really know what just yet. Fast forward to the present, I finally knew what We Vibe was meant to be; events, production, and eventually a label. We started using the Disco Plants as decor for our events, completely immersing our guests in a lush neon jungle, with nothing but the best music from some of the most talented local DJs and producers in the LA scene. We tried our very best to get the company off the ground floor but no one really tells you how challenging starting an event is and how much money you actually need to succeed. Our business partner ended up bailing on us at one point, the store I was working at closed down, and my boyfriend and I were left to pick up the pieces of the project we wanted so desperately to see thrive. We dabbled in different options of how to keep the company afloat without the financial backing of our old partner. We threw a couple of events but the overhead was just too much on our own. We switched gears to doing a mix series which ended up turning into a label. In a short amount of time we have had really great success landing on Beatport’s Hype charts and Top 100 in different genre charts.

It’s been an honor to be apart of something so special, especially getting to work with some insanely talented people. Even with the trials and tribulations we have faced so far, my hopes for the company is to grow into an internationally successful label and event company. It hasn’t been an easy journey, and I still face many challenges ahead, but I’m determined to see this through. We Vibe brings something special to an industry that sometimes feels like its lost it’s magic with commercial popularity over the last couple of years. It is my hope that we can restore some of the specialness that initially inspired me to get into this industry in the first place by providing a space that encourages self expression, love, and peace in the present moment. Though uncertain of what the future holds, I still have the unwavering faith that the universe has our backs and that if I believe in the dream without a doubt, it’s going to happen.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always been a dreamer. I never really felt aligned to the “regular” way of doing things. I’ve always been a rule breaker, a nonconformist, and very much a rebel. Whenever someone tells me I can’t do something, that I’m crazy for thinking I can do things my way, or that the path I’ve chosen is wrong, it’s just motivated me to prove that I can do it that much more. My life journey though short, (I’m only 31 years old) has led me to a place where I now know anything is possible, the universe is always supporting me, and that if I believe without a doubt I can do something than it is most definitely going to happen. As an artist, the regular way of doing life has never really been a viable option for me. Walking this path has its moments of hardship, the starving artist archetype is no joke. Learning to truly believe in yourself and having the faith that you will find what you’re seeking is an ongoing battle, though when you are ready to do the work to get out of your own way, it’s amazing what can be accomplished.

I feel like my art reflects this, even though I hate labelling myself as an artist because I am very much all over the place when it comes to creative expression. I have a bad habit of discrediting my accomplishments, even though to the outside world I’m doing something right. I feel like the biggest lesson I’ve learned throughout my journey is to never give up even when the universe challenges your dedication to seeing your dreams through. I feel like I am not even where I want to be yet as an artist and creative but I think that’s also such a beautiful aspect to this path; you will forever be a work in progress because there’s always something new to be learned and experienced. Life is truly full of endless possibilities and its up to us to tap into that and see what the world has in store for us.

Nothing good in this life comes easy but have faith in yourself and know that eventually everything will work out the way its supposed to. I’m a firm believer that things don’t happen to us they happen for us, regardless if we perceive these things as good or bad, they push us in the direction we are meant to go in. I’ve had a few hang ups in my music career but every time I come back to it I get further than the previous attempt. Failure isn’t something to be feared its an opportunity for growth and to learn from our mistakes, so we can evolve and be better.

I’m beyond proud and grateful for the things I’ve accomplished so far, even though I’m just starting. It takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there in the world and I’m really proud of myself for even trying. I’m excited for what the future holds for myself and the brands I’m working on. I love collaborating with people and would love to see a solid team behind We Vibe Music in the near future. One lesson that I’ve learned is that yes, you can do things solo but it’s so much better working with other people. I also think I’ve come to a place where I am finally ready to fully jump in as an artist, to support myself with my creativity. I’ve recently decided to relaunch my brand Disco Plants and get that up and running again. I’ve been dabbling in pour over paintings as well, so I will be offering those very soon!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Dang this is a tough one! LA is so full of amazing spots I don’t even know where to start. I’ve lived in the San Fernando Valley and IE for a number of years so my recommendations are all over the place. Here we go!

Restaurants:

Bossa Nova – The DTLA location and the Hollywood location are my two go to spots for late night elevated cuisine and delicious drinks. My best friend Yvonne put me on to this spot and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Grand Central Market – One of the coolest places to find a variety of delicious food all in one place in the heart of Downtown. There’s a bunch of super tasty options available, including one of my favorite spots, Ramen Hood, an all vegan ramen joint.

Babba Sweets – This super tiny mom and pop spot in the heart of the valley is a hidden gem. I love this spot so much its cafeteria style so you can try different items for a steal. Not only is this spot extremely affordable but its absolutely delicious and is all vegetarian.

Sushi Enya – I went to the one off of 1st street in DTLA. One of the best sushi experiences I’ve ever had. They offer a traditional Japanese Tatami seating in private rooms where you have to take off your shoes and everything. The food was so good and it was awesome to get a little taste of an authentic Japanese dining experience.

My top 3 Ramen spots – I’m a huge fan of ramen its literally one of my all time favorite foods. I have three go to places scattered around So Cal. LA location would be Daikokuya a super traditional spot that always has a line because its amazing. My go to local spot here in the IE is Kotsu Ramen & Gyoza in Montclair. I love this place they have one of the best vegan ramens I’ve ever had. Next is Saku Ramen in Downtown Riverside its one of the few spots that stay open 24 hrs and is so worth the trek out to DTR the food is so good and the vibe is super cool I highly recommend going to check it out.

Wish You Were Here – My top local spot here in Pomona, this place is literally the best. The food is delicious, the vibe is so cute, and the drinks are unmatched plus the baristas are the best humans ever. I highly recommend coming on the weekends for brunch though depending on the time of day it can be crazy busy so be prepared to wait but its so worth being patient. I’m totally addicted to this spot. They offer craft cocktails that are to die for including my favorite boozy coffee drink the Carajillo, its life changing to say the least.

Drinks:

O’Donovan’s Restaurant & Pub – Literally the best craft cocktails ever. I love this spot because you can have two different experiences under one roof. Upstairs is more elevated with hand crafted cocktails made with love and downstairs is more of the pub vibe, its dark but still cozy and is a fun spot to hangout for a casual drink. One of my favorite places here in Pomona.

Good Times at Davey Wayne’s – This place is super cool, not only do you enter through a fridge but the atmosphere is a vibe. It’s got a 70’s feel going on with moody lighting and mid century modern furniture, the drinks are great and they usually always have good tunes going.

Pattern Bar – This place is known for its Mezcal drinks and always having some kind of music event going on. It’s a really cool place to get a tasty drink and get to enjoy some of the local talent LA has to offer plus its in the heart of DTLA.

Yard House – Yes its a corporate spot but I’m not going to lie they have fire cocktails and an impressive tap list and the best part is you can go to any location and the consistency is there. No shame in my game this is a definite go to for delicious drinks.

Hamilton Family Brewery – They have an awesome selection of beers here and its a chill environment to hangout in. My favorite beer they put out every summer is their Watermelon Blonde its so good and perfect for summer.

Angel City Brewery – This place is a really cool place to hangout. They offer an impressive selection of beer and have a bunch of games and a really dope second floor hangout space. It’s got a nice vibe and is near the arts district in LA so you have plenty of options of nearby places to check out within walking distance.

Homage Brewing – The coolest local brewery here in Pomona. The beer is delicious and the beer tenders are amazing. The vibes here are unmatched its such a nice place to end the day with good tunes and good company. The China Town location is also really dope but Pomona has a special place in my heart.

Places to visit:

Griffith Observatory – One of the neatest places to go to in LA. The view is incredible at night and the exhibits are super cool to wander through as well.

The Getty Villa – This spot is absolutely gorgeous. Located off of PCH the view is breath taking but also the architecture and landscaping is stunning. You feel like you’re in an actual villa somewhere in Europe its really beautiful. They offer a lot of exhibits to check out which is fun to explore.

The Last Bookstore – Such a cool place to check out. You can spend a few hours in this spot its a labyrinth of books and records. I highly recommend going in to look around for a bit if you find yourself in LA.

The Brewery Art Walk – They host this event twice a year in LA. It’s an artist compound that they open up to the public to check out peoples work and live in studios. It’s a fun thing to go to especially if you are into art.

LACMA – One of my favorite museums to go to its huge and has so many exhibits to explore. The lantern forest out front is super iconic and a fun place for a photo op.

Sound Night Club – One of my go to spots for good house music. They are known for hosting the best talent, and the spot itself is iconic. I love going here to dance the night away.

Exchange LA – Another legendary club that used to be an old stock exchange. The building itself is breathtaking and they usually host top music acts, making it a popular destination for dance music lovers.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To all the friends and fellow artists that believed in our vision enough to take a risk to be apart of this journey. I’m beyond grateful to every single person who has given their time, words of encouragement, and support in us pursuing this dream. To my business partner Sam Burns, who has played an integral role in any of this even happening at all, you will forever hold a special place in my heart no matter where life takes us, my gratitude for you is endless.

Website: https://linktr.ee/spacebabe_music

Instagram: @spacebabemusic @wolfamongweeds @disco_plants_ @wevibemusic

Twitter: @wolfamongweeds

Facebook: facebook.com/spacebabemusic