Songfacts®:

• OneRepublic started working on this celebration of California during the production of their 2016 album, Oh My My, but shelved it. Speaking in August 2021 during the Someday video release afterparty, frontman Ryan Tedder said it's one on his "all-time favorite Top 5 OneRepublic songs we've ever done." They held it back from Oh My My because it has a different sound from the normal OneRepublic music. He compared it to The Beach Boys and The Mamas & the Papas' "California Dreamin'," with Gorillaz-like drums.
• Because of its unique sound, OneRepublic decided their sixth album would contain tracks that fit in with "West Coast."
  
  "The sound of that album we're slightly switching up to match with 'West Coast,'" Tedder said in the 2021 afterparty video, "because we think the song is so good." They released it as the album's lead single on February 25, 2022.
• Ryan Tedder and his OneRepublic bandmate Brent Kutzle wrote the song with songwriters Justin Tranter and Noel Zancanella, and with the Swedish production duo Mattman and Robin. Tedder, Kutzle, and Mattman & Robin produced the track with John Nathaniel.
• While OneRepublic was developing "West Coast," Tedder was also working with U2 on Songs of Experience and Songs of Innocence. During the recording sessions with U2, Tedder shared the track and U2 borrowed its "I've been dreamin' about the West Coast" line for their Songs of Experience cut "Summer of Love."