Tucked away in a small office building above a China Town bakery sits Ooga Booga, a one-stop shop for new music, art and fashion. It was started in 2004 when owner Wendy Yao decided there weren't enough outlets or meeting places for Los Angeles creative folk. Her vision was to make something that was from the "gut", and to focus on exciting designers, art books, zines, small presses and underground music. Four years later, Ooga Booga is gaining indie cred a long way from LA.

Dazed Digital: How is Ooga Booga involved in the art scene of Los Angeles?
Wendy Yao: We are big fans of independent art publishing, so it's a place where small art books and zines get priority over the big coffee-table book.  I like items that you might not find in a gallery or museum, like some affordable small sculptures, or jewelry or mixtapes made by the artists, alongside editions and books, all made by a wide variety of artists, both established and unknown.  Hopefully it gives a more intimate glimpse into the creative life in L.A.

DD: Have you commissioned work for the store?
WY: Yeah there are a bunch of artists who have made special things just for the shop, often things for fun, like clothing, ceramics, jewelry, mini-sculptures, art editions, zines, and are super-affordable compared to their gallery work.   [K Records founder] Calvin Johnson's mixtapes weren't my idea, but I've known him since my high school years, so I asked him about it, as they seemed perfect for the shop. They're among my favorite things here. Other artists have also made mixtapes for us - for instance, Malik Gaines of My Barbarian made a Brazilian/Tropicalia mix when we first opened, and Eric Wesley made a "PYC Mixtape" as an extension of his Pico Youth Center art project at the time.

DD: What do you think of the independent music and art culture in Los Angeles now and how has it changed since you started your store?
WY: It's great - I've felt connected it since a pretty young age so it's very personal to me.  For me, music venues such as Jabberjaw, The Smell, etc., had a huge effect early on as a musician, and I'm so glad to see that the all-ages scene is continuing to support a whole new generation of bands, like Mika Miko and No Age, who have carved out their own aesthetic and community.

DD: What plans have you got for Ooga Booga in the future?
WY: We are having an exhibition with Nieves from Switzerland throughout March, it will show all of the books and zines they have published in the last seven years, and there will be a zine reading room from the publisher's collection. Each week of the show there will be a zine launch/signings by Geoff McFetridge, Mari Eastman, Mike Mills, Ari Marcopoulos, as well as the 2007 zine box set and poster.

DD: What are your LA tips for 2008?
WY: Music-wise, Abe Vigoda are current faves, and a new band called All Neon Like.  In the art scene there's a new gallery called Overduin and Kite, run by two really smart women. They are definitely making L.A. more exciting right now.