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

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As I’ve stated, I am a musician and visual artist – both of those things play a huge part in me as a business owner and designer for my brand Learn To Forget. I’ve been touring and recording records with my band Night Verses since 2011, but played in tons of bands before that as well. The visual art side has roots in graffiti, which I began doing in 8th grade. In my teens I was lucky enough to join some awesome graffiti crews around OC & LA and be surrounded by really dope artists. That helped form my influence and basis for graphic design, which I would start getting into in my 20’s.

Before my company Learn To Forget became my full time job – music always took precedence over everything else. One thing I’m still most proud of is a record my band Night Verses recorded in Venice Beach, in 2016 with record producer Ross Robinson. Ross has always been my favorite producer and has made some of my favorite records of all time, (At The Drive-In, Glassjaw, The Cure, Slipknot etc…) and working with him was a highlight of my musical career. Getting to that point was not easy, and we toured relentlessly for years before (and after) that. Driving through snow storms, across the country, sleeping on couches and in the van isn’t easy, but it builds character and purpose.

A highlight, and something I’m really proud of with Learn To Forget is mostly becoming a successful, functioning business and designer. Going from putting my graffiti onto a few t-shirts, to being in over 500 stores worldwide and having our own warehouse in just a few years is really a dream come true. I tend to work at least 15 hours a day, 7 days a week and it takes it’s toll – but it’s worth it. Turning LTF into something that I can support myself through was challenging, and being somewhat of a ‘outsider’ in the streetwear industry it only made things harder, but as we grew we were embraced by some great retailers and companies. I’m really excited to keep growing it in the coming years.

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.
If I had a friend from out of town coming and I wanted to show them a good time, this is what I’d do. Food wise, I would take them to Guisados for tacos, Seabirds for good vegan food, Love Hour for burgers, Uncle Paulie’s for sandwiches, and Urth Cafe for their heirloom coffee.

I don’t really party or drink anymore, and with Covid being so prevalent lately – I don’t even know where I’d take them to get a drink. Most likely, I’d just post up at a mellow graffiti yard, or train spot with some beers and hang out, appreciate our surroundings and the unique visual culture that LA and the surrounding area provides.

People wise, I’d make a list of some friends and just go down the list. From my friends with their own offices and streetwear companies to my graff writers and musicians, I’d travel around OC and LA to each of them and share stories and hang.

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?
Underground hardcore, punk and graffiti scenes around LA and Orange County are why we are who we are. Those communities helped raise us, gave us our taste and influenced the way we go about living our lives. Aside from that, when I started touring heavily and in between tours I started taking online philosophy courses. Those courses and philosophers, specifically Carl Jung, really helped change my perspective and allowed me to adopt a positive mental attitude and find meaning in my life. While that may sound corny – it helps me in every aspect of life now

Website: www.learntoforgetbrand.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/learntoforget_

Other: www.instagram.com/reillyherrera

Image Credits
Dakota Watson

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.