The WAITIKI 7: New Sounds of Exotica

The WAITIKI 7 … changing lives (and family situations?) with every album release. Hey, here’s a good reason to buy our music: as a belated Mother’s Day gift, or just in time for Father’s Day!

While the lounge music revival has come and gone, it’s nice to see that The Waitiki 7 are keeping the fire burning for exotica and doing a bang up job of it. I love this record and even my parents love this record. Being of the generation of the cocktail set New Sounds of Exotica is right up my parents alley and they could even name records that it sounded like. We bonded over this record!

DJ Paul Pop, POP! Stereo Blog (FirstCoastNews.com), May 12, 2010

Read this full review (if the link above goes bad) at the Rock Paper Scissors archive.

The WAITIKI 7’s second album, New Sounds of Exotica, is due out on June 7, 2010. We’re really proud of the work that went into this disc, which pairs classic exotica standards like “Similau,” “Firecracker,” “Bali Ha’i,” and “When First I Love” with modern originals. The album is all new and totally fresh. If you liked our album Adventures in Paradise, but have hankered for our ‘live’ sound, then you’re sure to love this follow-up. 

Read our press release here.

by Randy Wong

1 3/4 oz white demerara rum (El Dorado 3 Yr)
1/4 oz gin
1/2 oz falernum
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz fresh orange juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Shake with rocks, strain, serve over crushed ice in an old fashioned glass (or Marquesan-style tiki mug). Garnish with an orange twist - express oils first.

by Randy Wong

1 1/2 oz cognac
1/2 oz falernum
1/2 oz orgeat
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
1 egg white
4 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
soda

Dry shake all ingredients except soda. Add a hand-hewn cube (if available) and shake again. In a collins glass (or Mara Amu-style mug) stack 4 ice cubes and fill 1/4 full with soda. Double strain into the glass and top with soda if space remains. Garnish with a lime pull.