Cultural Conflict: Electric Guest

      The Los Angeles duo Electric Guest operates with artistic freedom. The band has consistently displayed an independent spirit, which has allowed the primary members—songwriter and producer Asa Taccone and film/TV composer Matthew Compton—to transcend genre limitations in their music.

      Their new album, ’10k’, sees the pair returning to their origins, showcasing a vibrant indie pop collection that captures the effortless essence of summer in a novel setting.

      The title reflects a significant aspect of Electric Guest's history—it's inspired by a $10K loan Taccone received from a mentor when he relocated to LA, encouraging him to abandon his day job and pursue music full time.

      Now available, Asa Taccone shares insights on the music, films, books, and gadgets that influenced his creative journey while working on ’10k’.

      —

      Book…

      I recently finished reading The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson. The book discusses a test developed in the 1980s for the American prison system to assess whether inmates are sociopaths or psychopaths. It features a list of 20 traits, and naturally, while reading, you find yourself contemplating, “Where do I fit on the spectrum of insanity?”

      The book is compelling as it argues that many individuals in high positions of power may, in fact, exhibit psychopathic traits. Ronson travels internationally, interviewing dictators and politicians, many of whom score remarkably high on the test. He suggests that a very small percentage of people who are essentially driving the world are biologically different.

      Music…

      It really depends on what day you catch me. My ADHD tends to lead me to switch genres frequently. I wish I could be a loyalist to a single music style, but that's not who I am. I listen to NTS radio quite a bit, which is great because they'll play everything from Bavarian choral music to UK Drill in the same hour. I might be tempted to mention a cool new band—I listen to many up-and-coming artists like Florence Sinclair or Saya Grey—but I mostly enjoy older instrumental music, and I’ve recently been on an Elvis kick, especially his slower, crooning tracks.

      Gadget…

      Absolutely, it's this handheld Dyson vacuum I purchased. Once I began earning money, I invested in new appliances. This vacuum is incredible; it practically pulls the carpet up from the flooring when set to high power. I'm not exaggerating. This is just where I'm at in life. I’ll take an edible, turn it on, and clean my whole house, which is oddly satisfying. Then I move to the car using various attachments I never thought I’d need, but they fit perfectly. I really hope they sponsor me so I won't have to keep paying the exorbitant prices for their other products.

      Movies…

      I watch a lot of anime, almost always in the background. There’s often a computer streaming some anime while I'm in music sessions with bands. I find it oddly soothing. Anime doesn’t require as much attention as traditional films, and the cartoonish aspect brings a sense of nostalgia that seems to relax people. Movies serve as my escape from music, so I watch plenty of them. I recently saw a film called The Eight Mountains, which resembles an Italian Brokeback Mountain; it was excellent. I also watched Wheel Of Fortune And Fantasy, which was brilliant—it's divided into three parts, and although it's labeled as a “romantic comedy,” it’s more of an unusual drama set in Tokyo.

      TV…

      I don’t own a television. I have a few streaming subscriptions but don’t watch much TV. Occasionally, I catch this terrible show called My Feet Are Killing Me, which features people with bizarre foot problems.

      —

      ’10k’ is now available.

      Photo Credit: Anna Langlois

      —

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