Asa Taccone
American musician (born 1983)
title: "Asa Taccone" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1983-births", "american-indie-rock-musicians", "american-people-of-dutch-descent", "american-people-of-german-descent", "american-people-of-finnish-descent", "american-people-of-italian-descent", "american-musicians-of-puerto-rican-descent", "living-people", "musicians-from-berkeley,-california"] description: "American musician (born 1983)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asa_Taccone" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American musician (born 1983) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Asa Taccone |
| image | Electric Guest.jpg |
| image_size | 300px |
| caption | Taccone performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| death_date | |
| occupation | |
| years_active | 2003–present |
| associated_acts | |
| website | |
| module | {{infobox person |
| embed | yes |
| relations | Jorma Taccone (brother) |
| Tony Taccone (father) | |
| :: |
| name = Asa Taccone | image = Electric Guest.jpg | image_size = 300px | alt = | caption = Taccone performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival | birth_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = Berkeley, California, U.S. | origin = | death_date = | death_place = | genre = | occupation = | instrument = | years_active = 2003–present | label = | associated_acts = | website = | module = {{infobox person | embed = yes | relations = Jorma Taccone (brother) Tony Taccone (father)
Asa Taccone (born September 21, 1983) is an American musician, songwriter, producer, and frontman of the band Electric Guest with whom he has released four albums since 2012. He is noted as a close collaborator of The Lonely Island, and has contributed to their musical work on Saturday Night Live and a number of their films. He also has written music for other comedy film and television projects including American Dad! and Portlandia.
Early life
Asa Taccone was born on September 21, 1981, the second son of Suellen Ehnebuske and Tony Taccone (a theater director) in Berkeley, California. His brother is Jorma Taccone, a former writer for Saturday Night Live and one third of the comedy music trio The Lonely Island. He is of mixed Italian and Puerto Rican ancestry on his father's side.
His interest in music began playing trumpet in his elementary school choir during religious holidays; the choir director included a bongo section where he and other children could sing and play the drums. Taccone was eventually kicked out of his high school, and sent to a boot camp that he could only leave on the weekends.
While there, he began to frequent a local Dunkin' Donuts.
Career
Taccone had long been a fan of hip hop music, and was influenced by Bay Area rappers like Souls Of Mischief, E-40, and Mac Dre. He moved on to synths and started producing hip hop music, however, he eventually grew weary of the "bullshit" of the hip-hop world.
One day — while visiting an incarcerated friend — another inmate recognized Taccone, requesting that they work together after his release. The incident rattled Taccone, and he left the genre for good. His already budding interest in 1960s music increased, and he began making music that stemmed from that era.
Taccone's older brother, Jorma, joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live in 2005, and enlisted Asa in composing music for the show's Digital Shorts performed by his comedy group The Lonely Island.
Jorma asked his friend Brian Burton (professionally known as Danger Mouse) to listen to some of Asa's music over the phone. Burton recommended that Asa take his former room in a boarding house full of musicians.
Initially, Taccone found it difficult to collaborate with others creatively, after years of writing alone. He kept "grinding," producing and writing music for projects that included Digital Shorts on comedy show Saturday Night Live, as well as scores for his father's theatrical productions, making enough money to support himself and his own music. He wrote music for Lady Gaga’s episode on The Simpsons, Kanye West’s episode on The Cleveland Show, as well as Charles Bradley and The Weeknd's episodes on American Dad. Taccone was a co-writer and co-producer on the Portugal The Man hit “Feel It Still.” The song became number one, and garnered the band a 2018 Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
In April 2018, Universal Music Publishing Group signed Taccone to a global administration deal.
Taccone is credited as a writer and the sole producer of the Portugal the Man single, “Dummy.”
Reception
::quote Pitchfork]] ::
The Guardian calls Taccone "a strutting junior Jagger with an androgynous falsetto prepared to front EG's tunes with as much gall as it takes."
Discography
With Electric Guest
Main article: Electric Guest#Discography
- Mondo (2012)
- Plural (2017)
- Kin (2019)
- 10K (2025)
Production
::data[format=table]
| Title | Year | Artist | Album | Notes | "Just a Blessing" | "One Unit at a Time" | "No One Wants To See Me On Stage" | "1984" | "Benterlude" | "Sax Man" (feat. Jack Black) | "Boombox" (feat. Julian Casablancas) | "Dick in a Box" (feat. Justin Timberlake) | "Natalie's Rap" (feat. Chris Parnell & Natalie Portman) | "Mama's Got A Brand New Swag (So Exquisite)" | "Take You Home" | "Motherlover" (feat. Justin Timberlake) | "Ana" | "Chariot" | "Real People" | "Tiger Smile" | "Bridges" | "Tell Me Why" | "Melody" | "Bright Like Gold" | "Feel It Still" | "Keep On" | "Feels Right" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Dor 1, Sok The Virgo & Enzyme | The Network | Producer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sok The Virgo & Theory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sokrates The Virgo | Elenchus: The Album | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | The Lonely Island | Incredibad | Producer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Producer, writer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Joyo Velarde | Love & Understanding | Producer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | The Lonely Island | Turtleneck & Chain | Producer, writer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charlotte Gainsbourg | Stage Whisper | Vocals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Luke Top | Suspect Highs | Vocals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ice Cube & Common | Barbershop: The Next Cut OST | Writer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Nine Pound Shadow | Nine Pound Shadow EP | Album producer, writer, vocals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Portugal. The Man | Woodstock | Producer, writer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Carly Rae Jepsen | Dedicated | Producer, featured artist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| :: |
Songwriting for media
::data[format=table]
| Title | Year | Artist | Production | Notes | "Lazy Sunday" | "Young Chuck Norris" | "Natalie's Rap" | "Harpoon Man" | "Dick in a Box" | "Andy Popping Into Frame" | "Sloths" | "Roy Rules!" | "Iran So Far" | "People Getting Punched Just Before Eating" | "Ace Rockwell: Thumper in Your Trumper" | "The Late, Late Show with Dr. Schadenfreude" | "Hero Song" | "Daiqurai Girl" | "GIRAFFES!" | "Motherlover" | "Boombox" | "What Was That?" | "We Happen to Be Clubbing" | "Dip a Toe" | "Hot Tub Song" | "Do Whatever You Like" | "Daddy's Gone" | "Hot Tub Research" | "Psychotic Hot Tub" | "End Credits Medley" | "Girl You Need A Shot (Of B12 (Boyz 12))" | "Dream of the '90s" | "Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad Boy" | "The Perfect Gift" | "You Get the Rod" | "We've Been Bad" | "Family" | "Rubbernecking" | "Fraudulence" | "Is She Not Hot Enough?" | "I Wanna Be Seen" | "Old Springfield Anthem" | "New Springfield Anthem" | "Trapped in the Locker" | "Real People" | "Owen’s Song" | "The Snoopa Loompa Rap" | "The Weeknd's Dark Secret" |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Lonely Island & Chris Parnell | Saturday Night Live | Writer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Lonely Island & Jason Sudeikis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | The Lonely Island, Chris Parnell & Natalie Portman | Writer/producer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Lonely Island | Writer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Lonely Island & Justin Timberlake | Music/producer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | The Lonely Island | Music | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Writer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Lonely Island & Adam Levine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Lonely Island | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Himself | Hot Rod | Writer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Himself, Matthew Compton & Justin Bailey | Igor | Writer, performer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | The Lonely Island | Saturday Night Live | Writer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | The Lonely Island & Justin Timberlake | Producer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | The Lonely Island & Julian Casablancas | Writer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Lonely Island & Arcade Fire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Himself & Drew Campbell | MacGruber | Writer, performer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | CeeLo Green | American Dad! | Writer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott Grimes & Seth MacFarlane | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CeeLo Green | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Scott Grimes, et al. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portlandia | Portlandia | Writer, performer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Scott Grimes | American Dad! | Writer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rachel MacFarlane | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Charles Bradley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott Grimes & Charles Bradley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rachel MacFarlane & Daran Norris | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Chris Diamantopoulos, David Koechner, et al. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Terry Crews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scott Grimes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seth MacFarlane, Scott Grimes, et al. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Dan Castellaneta | The Simpsons | Writer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nancy Cartwright, et al. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Scott Grimes | American Dad! | Writer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ice Cube & Common | Barbershop: The Next Cut | Writer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | The Lonely Island | Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping | Vocals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Himself | American Dad! | Writer, performer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | The Weeknd | Writer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| :: |
Collaborations with the Lonely Island
- Saturday Night Live (2005–2008) – composer/additional music; 17 episodes
- Hot Rod (2007) – songwriter
- Incredibad (2009) – The Lonely Island
- MacGruber (2010) – additional instrumentations; film
- "Motherlover" (2011) – from The Lonely Island album Turtleneck & Chain
- The Wack Album (2013) – The Lonely Island
- 7 Days in Hell (2015) – music consultant; TV film
- Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (Original Soundtrack) (2016) — The Lonely Island
Composition for theater and film
- Bridge and Tunnel (2006) – music
- Taking Over (2009) – music
- Lemony Snicket’s The Composer Is Dead (2010) – film underscoring
- American Dad (2011–2020) – composer/voice actor; 7 episodes
- Neal Brennan: 3 Mics (2017) – composer
Awards
- 2009 - Nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics – "Dick in a Box"
References
References
- Hurwitt, Robert (July 5, 2006), [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/05/DDGERJNJ4K1.DTL "Tony Taccone: Riding high on his recent successes, theater veteran has big plans for Berkeley Rep"]. ''Chronicle Theater Critic''. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
- During high school, he became interested in jazz, continuing to play trumpet in the band.Shedden, Iain (June 16, 2012), [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/review/asa-taccone-gets-nice-and-cheesy-with-his-band-electric-guest/story-fn9n8gph-1226394669965 "Nice and cheesy"]. ''The Australian'' :10
- SWIFT, JACQUI (April 19, 2013), "WELCOME GUEST". ''The Sun'' :55
- There, he met an elderly woman who remarked that he was "an electric guest of the universe."Gotch, Kristin (May 7, 2012), [http://www.popmatters.com/feature/158207-troublemen-an-interview-with-electric-guest/ "An Interview with Electric Guest"]. PopMatters. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- Kauffman, Alexia (May 3, 2012), [http://www.welovedc.com/2012/05/03/qa-with-electric-guest/ "Q&A with Electric Guest"]. ''We Love DC''. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
- Beer, Jeff (May 19, 2009), [http://adage.com/article/behind-the-work/black-iris-asa-taccone-talks-snl-skit-soundtracks/136754/ "Black Iris' Asa Taccone Talks SNL Skit Soundtracks"]. Adage.com. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- Burton provided positive feedback, encouraging the younger Taccone to continue making music. At the age of 24, Asa made the move from his hometown to [[Los Angeles]] to pursue a music career.Mathieson, Craig (July 27, 2012), "Depths of their soul". ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. :Metro, 5.
- (April 25, 2018). "'I'm very lucky': Universal Music Publishing Group signs songwriter Asa Taccone to global administration deal". NewBay Media.
- Drever, Andrew (July 27, 2012), "Sticks and stones a low note". ''The Age''.
- Lester, Paul (March 7, 2012), [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/mar/07/new-band-electric-guest "Electric Guest (No 1,223)"]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- 1557837325
- 1423473698
- Harvey, Dennis (December 6, 2010), [https://variety.com/2010/legit/reviews/lemony-snicket-s-the-composer-is-dead-1117944161/ "Review: ‘Lemony Snicket’s The Composer Is Dead’"]. ''Variety''. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
- HBO staff (October 21, 2009), [http://www.emmys.com/news/hbo-tops-59th-creative-arts-emmys-nbc-leads-nets "HBO Tops 59th Creative Arts Emmys, NBC Leads Nets"]. HBO.com. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::