Eddie Witz and The Most High have returned with a sun-drenched and soul-baring rendition of “In California,” a track that radiates warmth even as it mourns loss. Re-released on February 28, 2025, and now serving as a centerpiece for Witz’s upcoming debut album I Am What I Am (arriving August 2025), this reimagined, remixed, and remastered version breathes new life into a song already rich with meaning. More than just a remix, “In California” is a sonic time capsule—a love letter to Witz’s home state, written with ashes, hope, and melody.
Witz, a California native, draws from personal upheaval to create an emotionally vivid journey. The wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles in 2025 didn’t just char the landscape—they took pieces of his own life. “The fires devastated the area where Michelle and I raised our children,” he reflects, noting the destruction of his childhood home and the school his kids once attended. “In California” becomes more than just a song; it’s a meditation on memory, permanence, and the bittersweet ache of nostalgia in a world that changes too fast.
But instead of falling into despair, Witz infuses the track with sonic resilience. Blending elements of Americana, reggae, folk, and pop, “In California” reflects the multifaceted identity of the Golden State itself—vibrant, layered, and filled with a spirit that refuses to fade. The lyrics carry the weight of grief, but they never sink. Instead, they float on a sea of shimmering guitars, heartfelt vocals, and a rhythm section that moves like a long drive up the Pacific Coast Highway: steady, spacious, and cinematic.
Produced with exceptional attention to detail, the track is elevated by an all-star team of collaborators. Six-time Grammy-winner Mauricio Iragorri (best known for his work with Dr. Dre and Eminem) brings clarity and depth to the mix, while engineer Justin Gariano (Billy Joel, Olivia Rodrigo) helps shape the track’s layered emotional textures. The percussion, courtesy of Adam Topol (Jack Johnson) and Randy Cooke (Smash Mouth, Five for Fighting), is a masterclass in restraint and groove—holding everything together without overshadowing Witz’s vulnerable vocals. Add to that the warm tones and expert guitar work of Steve Fekete (Gwen Stefani, Steve Perry), and you have a track that feels both intimate and expansive.
Accompanying the re-release is a brand-new music video, premiering March 7, that takes viewers on a visual odyssey through the parts of California most affected by the recent wildfires. Filmed across Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu, the video juxtaposes scenes of natural beauty with moments of devastation, ultimately capturing the state’s enduring duality. Originally, some of these locations were used for the 2024 version’s visuals—now, those homes and settings no longer exist. In this way, the video is not only a tribute, but a living document of what was lost and what still remains.
“In California” doesn’t ask for pity. It asks for presence. It’s a song about staying grounded when the world turns to smoke, about remembering what matters when the wind changes direction. It’s about home—not as a place, but as a feeling you carry with you, even when the landscape shifts.
For Eddie Witz and The Most High, this song marks a milestone. It’s the first glimpse into I Am What I Am, a project that promises to tackle themes of identity, transformation, and perseverance. If “In California” is any indication, the album will be a powerful fusion of storytelling and sonic craftsmanship, rooted in personal truth but built to resonate far beyond California’s borders.
Eddie Witz doesn’t just write songs—he builds bridges between the past and the present, between devastation and hope. And with “In California,” he invites us all to step onto that bridge, take in the view, and keep moving forward.
