As a budding producer, there's no production more buttoned up and and bursting with perfection than Miley Cyrus' 'Party In The U.S.A.'

I first heard the song when everyone else heard it, in the late Summer of 2009, but something was different for me. It resonated with for years and years. At that time, I was just getting started at University, starting what I thought would be a 4 year degree in Physics. (Trust me, I have no clue what I was thinking either.)

But as time went on and the pop songs kept parading along the charts, I couldn't bring myself to focus solely on my degree, and by my 3rd year into college I went full hermit. I'd lock myself in my dorm room and work on remixes day in and day out. To be completely honest, I don't even think I went to a bar until I was 22 or 23. It was music 24/7. And by the time graduation rolled around, I found myself getting ready to take that leap and commit to music full time.

Throughout that entire process, Miley was there. From that inimitable guitar lick all the way to the bombastic descending lazers that coat each chorus in bubblegum delight. Every time I had trouble decoding a production trick, every time a mix didn't turn out right, I'd pop on Party In The U.S.A. and know that one day, some day, I'd figure it out.

Fast forward 5 years later and I'm still here. Doing music full time and still listening to Miley on the regular. I wouldn't go so far as to say Party In The U.S.A. saved my life, but it sure did inspire most of my career. Shout out forever to one of the top ten most perfect songs and our nation's second national anthem.