Synopsis

Deftones' "Sextape" unfolds as a dreamlike underwater reverie. Two women drift through dark, blue-lit water, their bodies and hair moving weightlessly as they embrace, kiss, and circle one another. Slow motion, floating fabric, bubbles, and rippling reflections turn the pool into an abstract, otherworldly space. The imagery avoids a conventional narrative, instead translating the song's sensuality, intimacy, and recurring ocean imagery into a hypnotic visual mood.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video premiered on September 3, 2010, initially as an exclusive on NME's website. The song followed as the third single from *Diamond Eyes*, released on October 1, 2010.

• Its central image of two women making out underwater was highlighted in early coverage of the premiere. The concept gives the song's references to oceans, waves, and being "out of my head" a literal but highly stylized visual form.

• The video does not rely on a conventional storyline or a performance narrative. Its appeal comes from the combination of underwater movement, subdued lighting, and the song's slow, atmospheric arrangement.

• Chino Moreno later explained that he writes many Deftones lyrics abstractly, aiming to "paint a picture of a feeling." He also described "Sextape" as being built around three lush, beautiful notes, an approach that helps explain the video's emphasis on mood over plot.

• The song itself developed collectively during the *Diamond Eyes* sessions. Moreno brought in the opening riff, Sergio Vega added to it, and Stephen Carpenter supplied additional soundscapes.