Many children of the 80s and early 90s know the feeling that hits when a song from that era starts playing. Forget the viral TikTok hits that peter out as fast as they trend. From movie soundtracks to chart-toppers to radio hits, most of the music from that era was well-crafted, with memorable melodies, hooks, and relatable lyrics. Canadian producer/D.J. Takis is recreating memories from that period with his rework of one such hit, “California” by Phantom Planet.

As part of his upcoming sophomore album, Sad Sunsets, Takis’ dance-pop version of the hit classic is the perfect banger to close the summer. With its upbeat rhythms and introspective lyrics, this masterpiece evokes the youthful energy and carefree spirit associated with California’s sun-soaked lifestyle, just like the original did. However, Takis has added a few contemporary elements to make this beloved tune more appealing to the new generation.

“Producing California was about capturing the sound of summer,” the award-winning producer explains. “I know I sound strange in saying this, but my version of “feeling” like summer is a combination of deep nostalgia for past memories plus the excitement for all of the future memories I know that I’m about to create.” Achieving this balance with such a massive hit with millions of fans across America was somewhat challenging.

“I wanted to keep that nostalgic feel intact but flipping the sample to work for a dance record was challenging,” Takis explains. “I didn’t want to make some energetic workout record with the sample that sounded forced. I knew I had to keep the feeling smooth & maintain a chill vibe that respects the original while also fitting sonically into my upcoming E.P., Sad Sunsets. I really feel like I captured that carefree feeling of summer and put it into the final version everyone is about to hear.”

The process itself was fascinating for Takis, who associates the original song with the hit drama series The O.C. For young Takis, growing up in the middle of Canada, California was a big, shiny dream he hoped to achieve one day. Having made it big and lived in L.A. for a while, the novelty wore off a while back, but he recaptured it during the California sessions. 

“Looking back to capture that feeling of growing up reminded me of how far I’ve come & unexpectedly became a massive source of gratitude this year.”

Takis has a lot to be grateful for, indeed. Just last year, his debut album Welcome Home produced several radio hits, including “Wait for Me,” “All Time,” and “Closer.” Soon after, he received the nod from Ultra Records/ Sony Music for the “California” remake, and one of his lifelong dreams came true.

“I’ve wanted to flip “California” for years,” he explains. “Honestly, I never thought this sample would get cleared so I made the song expecting only my close friends and girlfriend to hear it. There’s something pure about producing a record & thinking it’ll remain an untitled MP3 in some random private folder on Dropbox.”

Come August, Takis’ version will be more than that; it will be the perfect summer anthem for many fans of dance-pop music. “The moment I found out the “California” sample got cleared, I knew it had to be record one to show people what they could expect for the E.P.,” Takis concludes. “I feel really lucky that I get to start the Sad Sunsets season of my career with a record like “California”. It’s exactly how I want to launch the project.”