Samuel Thomas Means is an American musician, producer, and songwriter, best known for his work with Arizona-based indie pop band The Format who returned from a nearly two decade hiatus in September 2025 and announced a new album October 6, 2025.
Music career
Sam Means and Nate Ruess left their previous bands Nevergonnascore and This Past Year and formed the indie-pop duo, The Format, in February 2000. The Format announced a hiatus on February 4, 2008.
On September 29, 2009, Means released the original motion picture soundtrack for the indie film The Sinking of Santa Isabel.
On April 21, 2012, Means released an exclusive 7" for Record Store Day, titled, NONA, on Photo Finish Records. The 7" features an A and B side, with a digital download card for three additional tracks, including a cover of The Hollies' "Carrie Anne".
On April 19, 2014, Means released his second exclusive 7" for Record Store Day, titled, Blue Jeans, on Photo Finish Records. The A Side and title track, "Blue Jeans", is a Lana Del Rey cover, featuring Anthony Green of Circa Survive on lead vocals, with Sizzy Rocket singing back up.
On January 22, 2016, Means released his debut full-length album, 10 Songs on Hello Records. The album reunited Means with his The Format bandmates Don Raymond, Marko Buzzard, Mike Schey, and John O'Riley, along with Dog Problems producer Steven McDonald and arranger Roger Joseph Manning Jr.Album liner notes
The Format reunited for a surprise show on February 3, 2020, performing in Hello Merch's event space. The next day, a brief reunion tour was announced, but would later be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On October 12, 2020, Means released a 5-track EP titled, I'm Sorry. Means wrote, "I wrote and recorded a little 5 song EP in my laundry this week, while the girls were out of town." The EP was released digitally and on cassette.
Business venture In the wake of the Format’s hiatus, Means and his wife, Anita, started a company in Phoenix, Arizona called Hello Merch. According to Hello Merch's website, "[the company] started in 2008 as an outlet for bands, musicians, creative artists and businesses to manufacture and sell merchandise anywhere, without giving up their rights."
The company moved locations numerous times during its early years due to outgrowing the spaces. The company has since found a sizable warehouse at 850 W. Lincoln in Phoenix’s historic warehouse district that they revitalized in 2019. Over the years, Means has extended the Hello brand to other ventures, including an apparel line, a record label, a screen printing and record pressing services, and event space.
The company had worked with many local organizations in creating merchandise such as the Phoenix Suns, the Crescent Ballroom, and the ZONA music festival. They also create merch for numerous well known musicians such as Bebe Rexha, K.Flay, Smallpools, Tori Amos.
Discography
For Means' releases with The Format, see The Format discography.
Studio albums
Year Artist Title Credit Label 2016 Sam Means 10 Songs Writer, performer Hello Records
EPs
Year Artist Title Credit Label 2012 Sam Means NONA Writer, performer, producer, engineer Photo Finish Records2020Sam MeansI'm SorryWriter, performer, producer, engineerHello Records
Various artist compilations
Year Artist Title Track Label 2009 Sam Means Phoenix: We Love It "Yeah Yeah" Stinkweeds2009Sam MeansSons of Men Single EP"No Motion" (Reuben's Accomplice cover)Western Tread Recordings 2011 Sam Means Can I Borrow This? Vol. 1 "Big Drag" (Limbeck cover) Burning House Records 2014 Sam Means HairBrained (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) "Yeah Yeah" & "Run Away" Legacy Recordings 2014 Sam Means 538 Hitzone 68 "Yeah Yeah" Universal Music 2014 Sam Means 100X Winter 2014 "Yeah Yeah" Universal Music
Soundtracks
Year Artist Title Credit Label 2009 Sam Means The Sinking of Santa Isabel Writer, performer, producer, engineer, Mixer The Vanity Label
Features Year Artist Title Track Credit Label 2009 FUN. Aim and Ignite All Tracks Writer Fueled by Ramen 2009 Destry It Goes On "Big Mouths," "Home Isn't Home," "So Far Away," and "Took The Money" Writer, performer Paper + Plastick Records 2010 Hellogoodbye Would It Kill You? I "Never Can Relax" Performer Wasted Summer 2013 FUN. Some Nights EP "At Least I'm Not as Sad (As I Used To Be)," "All the Pretty Girls," and "Walking the Dog" Writer Fueled by Ramen2020Anthony Green ft. Steven McDonald and Sam Means"Don't Forget Me" Single"Don't Forget Me" (Harry Nilsson cover)PerformerHello Records
Singles Year Artist Track Credit Label 2009 Sam Means "Yeah Yeah" Writer, performer, producer, engineer, Mixer The Vanity Label 2011 Sayid & The Torturers "SICK" Writer, performer, producer, engineer, Mixer Apples & Olive 2011 Sam Means "Christmas All Over Again" (Tom Petty cover) Performer, producer, engineer, Mixer Apples & Olive 2012 Sam Means "I Will" (The Beatles cover) Performer, producer, engineer, Mixer Apples & Olive 2014 Sam Means "Little Song" Writer, performer, producer, engineer, Mixer Apples & Olive 2014 Sam Means "Blue Jeans" (Featuring Anthony Green & Sizzy Rocket) Performer, producer, engineer Photo Finish Records2020Sam Means"The King of Carrot Flowers, Pt. 1" (Neutral Milk Hotel cover)Performer, producer, engineerHello Records2020Sam Means"Where Is My Mind?" (Pixies cover)Performer, producer, engineerHello Records
References