Sam Blumenfeld
Comedian
This one was a long time coming, and I am so excited that the day has finally arrived. Today’s guest is a dear old friend Sam Blumenfeld, who is among the funniest people I know and, to use his words against him (kindly of course, sorry my dear), a kind of comedic Benny Blanco or Rick Rubin. Though it’s (shamefully) possible you don’t know Sam’s name, you certainly know the names of many of the people he has helped write and produce for and perform alongside. Sam has worked with Emily Wilson, Chloe Troast, Please Don’t Destroy, and, at the time we recorded this interview, is most recently working with Dylan Adler on his new hour and Emily Wilson on her new special Undressed at the Fringe Festival. In addition, Sam and Emily Wilson also host a weekly comedy show at The Red Room (at KGB Bar) every Tuesday, which has become a mainstay in Aidan and I’s social calendar over the past few years. AND Sam is a part of the band Charlie & The Darlings and a founding member of Lisa.
“I really love to have someone hold me accountable, it's just more fun. It's more fun to make each other laugh.”
Suffice to say, Sam has a well-padded resume and versatility to spare. What I have always found most remarkable about Sam’s work is his ability to make every project he is a part of feel singular and innovative. It would be easy for him to lean on developing a signature that makes his mark on every project he is attached to distinct and easy to continuously reference, but he has never taken that approach. This is due largely in part to Sam’s inherently collaborative spirit and passion for immersing himself in the lives of the people he works with and, most importantly, trusting his taste. Sam and I spent an important part of the interview honing in on this value and how it’s possibly the singular one that a creative person cannot afford to sacrifice.
“The more you know something, the easier it becomes. I try to trust my taste as much as possible and really just follow the funny – find where we are all laughing.”
On the subject of having taste and trusting it, Sam’s style and life are reflective of this, in a way that is cooler than I realized (infuriating). His uniform looks like jeans and a gray t-shirt layered with a button-down that he can easily take on and off, and – a classic – Air Force 1s.
His essentials:
Green tea
Silk pillowcase
Appropriate footwear
Music
Index cards
It would be tough to tell you where to catch Sam next because he is omnipresent it seems, but his instagram is always a good place to start. Keep an eye on the Lisa Instagram, Tuesdays at the Red Room, & Charlie & The Darlings too!
And ofcourse, listen to our conversation here
xoxo <3
Ahmari