Synopsis
At a series of polished Los Angeles parties, Asa Taccone appears as an uneasy outsider, drifting through gatherings filled with fashionable guests and picture-perfect surroundings. As the night progresses, his character becomes increasingly bruised, bloodied, and volatile, suddenly lashing out at people around him. The deliberately exaggerated violence clashes with the song's hazy, soulful mood, creating a darkly comic portrait of alienation beneath a glossy social scene. The band also appears performing, reinforcing the contrast between the track's relaxed sound and the character's escalating behavior.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video premiered on January 24, 2012, ahead of Electric Guest's debut album, "Mondo," which was released by Downtown Records later that year.
- It was filmed in Los Angeles and produced by Caviar.
- Asa Taccone's older brother, Jorma Taccone, was involved in the production, while Asa appears on screen alongside bandmate Matthew "Cornbread" Compton.
- The production team included cinematographer Brandon Trost, production designer George Stahl, editor Jorma Taccone, and colorist Jacob Ritley.
- Contemporary coverage described the clip as a party story that turns humorously dark, with the deliberately excessive violence functioning as a visual counterpoint to the song's mellow electronic-soul arrangement.
- Asa Taccone explained that he wanted the video to capture the song's attitude without becoming preachy. The absurdity was intended to keep the idea exaggerated rather than overly serious.
- The song was written by Asa Taccone, Matthew Compton, and Danger Mouse. Danger Mouse also produced the track and the "Mondo" album.
- "American Daydream" helped introduce Electric Guest before the release of "Mondo," at a time when the Los Angeles duo was being highlighted as an emerging act.