Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with Co-Founder & Bassist Randy Wong of The WAITIKI 7. Speaking from his base in beautiful Honolulu, we dig into the band’s brand-new 2025 album Exotica Reborn: In Studio and Live at House Without a Key, their vibrant history, and the evolution of Exotica music.

The WAITIKI 7 is a modern Exotica supergroup blending jazz with global influences to create an immersive, transportive sound. Rooted in Hawaiʻi’s golden age of Waikiki, Exotica was shaped by legends like Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman, and the band carries that Legacy forward while redefining the genre for today’s listeners. Featuring conservatory-trained musicians, GRAMMY winners, and symphonic performers, they’ve spent 20 years preserving and advancing this unique musical tradition.

Founded in Boston by Hawaiʻi musicians Randy Wong and Abe Lagrimas Jr., The WAITIKI 7 emerged in the wake of the 1990s lounge revival and has continued to expand the boundaries of Exotica. We cover their history, mission, musicianship, and the creation of their new album. Enjoy this deep dive.

🎧 Get the album: https://www.waitiki.com/exoticareborn

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Joe Dimino Podcaster/Artist

Joe Dimino has been writing & creating in a variety of capacities since his college days at the University of Missouri-Kansas City somewhere around 1993. If you are keeping score, that would be about 29 years+. It all began at UMKCs University News as a Sports Writer & turned into a myriad of expressive avenues. Inventing poems, art, video & audio has always been in the proverbial cards.