Over 15 years ago, my band 17 Candle recorded our first and only full-length album, Californ-IA. After a five-year break following our wild adventures trying to “make it big” in Orlando, this album marked a creative rebirth for us. Now, it's finally available on streaming platforms!

To celebrate, here are some fun facts about Californ-IA:

🎛️ Recorded in a Literal Cornfield
We recorded the album at Catamount Studios in Cedar Falls, IA — the same place Slipknot and Stone Sour cut their records. (They politely declined my offer to guest star.)

✈️ In-Flight Fame
“Second Hand Heart” was featured on all 42,000+ Delta Airlines flights during November and December 2009, reaching an estimated 5 million passengers.

📱 Google’s Nexus One Debut
“Follow Me Down” was pre-installed on Google’s Nexus One smartphone. Between 1–3 million units shipped in the phone’s initial launch.

🏈 The Halftime Show That (Almost) Was
“Stay Gone” and “The 80’s” were selected for the 2010 Capital One Bowl All-American Halftime Show in Orlando. A national team of student dancers performed to our music — complete with pyrotechnics. Sadly, a muddy field forced a last-minute pivot: no rolling stage for us to perform live. The dancers still performed to our recorded tracks on live TV.

🎙️ A Shout-Out from Rick Dees
That halftime performance led to an invitation from legendary DJ Rick Dees to join him in-studio for a segment on his Top 40 show. A surreal and amazing moment for the band.

To all our listeners old and new, thanks for your support over the years. I hope this album finds a place in your playlists and brings back (or creates) some great memories.

➡️ Go give Californ-IA a listen on your preferred streaming platform - Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, etc. - and let me know your favorite track!