Cali Dewitt is a man who turned his back on the rabid undertones of the music industry he felt soul destroying and in turn has created one of LA’s most inspiring labels representing the incredible DIY music and art culture that exists today. The label is Teenage Teardrops home to the experimental, immersive noise duo Lucky Dragons and the lo-fi percussion of Nick deWitt. More of his adventures can be seen on his photo blog for RVCA. Alongside David Kramer from the Family Bookstore he also founded The Hope Gallery that has seen shows from Hamburger Eyes to Aaron Rose and Sumi Ink Club. Cali is currently loving LA (“It’s 88 degrees today!”) and looking forward to his marriage with Jenna Thornhill from Mika Miko. Here’s to Cali’s City of Angels.

Dazed Digital: Can you explain a little more about life before Teardrops?
Cali Dewitt: Oh, I think all roads and experience led to it. I had tried doing quite a few similar endeavors with others and there were always compromises and rules, I was always left feeling flat and embarrassed to have been a part of it. The only way to do something right is indeed to do it yourself.

DD: What’s coming up at Hope?
Cali Dewitt: The Hope Gallery had an incredible 18 month run at 1547 Echo Park Ave and when every last cent was spent and there was no time or possibility of getting any more we decided to shutter the doors just last week. However! The Hope Gallery has a new rent free locale and we will begin having shows again in September.

DD: Each of the new releases are so different? From Lucky Dragons to Nick deWitt to Infinite Body?
Cali Dewitt: I am so proud of that triple threat! I personally don’t feel like they are different, all three of those records strike me as daring and future thinking. My goal is to release more than music, to release affordable works of art, and I think these all succeed in that. None of them are for the casual listener. Nick deWitt’s music is a journey that can be described as modern/timeless Americana. Lucky Dragons are the most generous “world music” on the planet. Infinite Body is helping to redefine what music is and is not. These records are major works of art by major major artists.

DD: Record Label Management 101.
Cali Dewitt: I don’t think anyone who has dreams of having a label will want my advice, but here it is anyway.
1. Don’t work with or affiliate yourself with anyone you’re not 100 percent about. Spend all your time single mindedly working on your current dream release and lavishing affection on your real people. Keep it in The Family.

2. No branding. Let the people who will understand find you naturally. Branding is for gross creeps who aspire to become bigger gross creeps.

3. Be honest.

DD: What is Your Favorite Way To Spend A Week In LA?
Cali Dewitt: Well, let’s start this dream week by taking the week off of work. OK, so with that out of the way, let’s begin. Spend the morning drinking mugs of espresso and reading The New Yorker and answering label/gallery/friend emails and packing up mail orders. Make a major breakfast and wake up Jenna (wife) and Caramel Bobby (poodle) and feed them. Get the whole family into the car and drive to the beach. Spend a couple of hours surfing. Get home around 4pm, put Turner Classic Movies on the TV and fall asleep for two hours. Wake up, exercise and meditate. Make dinner while listening to James Brown and Grace Jones. Take showers and get ready to go to some kind of combo art opening/show. Get home, put another old movie on and fall asleep in 15 minutes. Repeat every day.

Teenage Teardrops will always be releasing more zines and records, as well as renting the basement of a church and starting a neighborhood theatre group.