Plated in Sound explores the spaces where music, community, and food converge — examining the people who curate the sound, the events that bring it to life, and how music shapes the places we return to.
Chapter One features the portraits of Wunderfish, an electronic artist who creates ambient music using plant frequencies; a four-DJ set with the prominent Waxx Fanatic, Technique, Feels Deep, and Mike Mixx; and jazz jam session all set within the lush greenery at Plantoem.
Part plant shop, part café, Plantoem serves coffee, tea, locally made pastries, and colorful seasonal drinks adorned with flavored foam and edible flowers. Every detail is considered, right down to the soundtrack.
Co-founded by Joel Terrón and Zoe Zhang, Joel curates the brand's downbeat playlists — jazz-rooted, weaving in artists like SHOLTO, Nina Simone, and Psylo. When asked my jazz, he said “All human emotions can be contained and expressed in Jazz. It's raw and intricate at the same time.”
From his collection of 300+ records, Joel’s favorite is Chet: The Lyrical Trumpet of Chet Baker.
Joel Terrón
One of his conditions before opening Plantoem was that the space would support local artists — and true to that, he curates every musical experience that moves through it.
Every month, Wunderfish creates ambient music using plant frequencies. Guests are invited to touch the plants, press the synthesizer keys, and sing into the mic, adding to the ethereal soundscape.
Plant electrodes transmit frequencies into his synthesizers, where Wunderfish shapes that raw energy into music —a practice he first began exploring at home.
Wunderfish with his favorite person, his niece.
Spin & Scratch Party featuring: Waxx Fanatic, Technique, Feels Deep, and Mike Mixx.
Opening during the pandemic, Plantoem turned to communal events like this to plant and nurture genuine connections. Nearing five years later, they stand as one of Kaimuki's most deeply rooted spaces.
Waxx Fanatic
Feels Deep
Every first Tuesday of the month, Plantoem hosts The Musician's Lounge by The Dae Han Experience.
All ages and skill levels are welcome at the monthly jazz jam session, where musicians — some familiar, some meeting for the first time — are grouped together and given a few minutes to devise a performance.
Dae Han
The event is Dae’s way of giving Honolulu the kind of communal outlet its talent deserves, providing a platform for musicians who may not yet be widely known but should be recognized.
The Musician's Lounge recently celebrated its one-year anniversary and largest turnout yet — a quiet measure of what happens when a space and its artists invest in each other.
It’s events like this that have woven Plantoem so deeply into the fabric of the Kaimuki community. Visit their enchanting space and connect with them at @Plantoem and @PlantoemCafe.