Co-Founder & Bassist Randy Wong of Waitiki 7

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 For More Neon Jazz: Shows via MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/neonjazzkc/Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/neonjazzkcSubscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-joe-dimino/id546432639?mt=2 The Home of Neon Jazz:http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/ Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal:                   https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.