Porter Robinson - KNOCK YOURSELF OUT XD

JUL 01 2024 · 12:00

Porter Robinson - KNOCK YOURSELF OUT XD (2024) Director: UNCANNY (Elliot Elder & George Muncey) Era: Post-Hyperpop Pop Renaissance (2023–2025) - A mid-2020s moment defined by former electronic/EDM auteurs pivoting toward maximalist, irony-saturated indie-pop with Y2K and internet-culture aesthetics; Porter Robinson's SMILE!:D cycle exemplifies the era. High curatorial value as a precisely datable artifact of the 2024 pop-electronic crossover moment. The video captures Porter Robinson's conscious reinvention as a pop performer, directed by an emerging critical-darling duo (UNCANNY/Pulse Films) whose lo-fi-meets-theatrical aesthetic was gaining significant industry recognition in this period. The plexiglass staging, warm palette, and fast-cut performance structure make it a visually clean and analytically rich document of mid-2020s pop music video conventions and internet-era celebrity self-awareness. Context: Released April 24, 2024 as the second single from Porter Robinson's third studio album SMILE!:D (Mom+Pop, July 26, 2024), 'KNOCK YOURSELF OUT XD' arrives at a cultural moment defined by parasocial fandom dynamics, internet celebrity worship, and the blurring of irony and sincerity in pop music. The track and video engage directly with fan idolization culture, with Robinson adopting exaggerated pop-star tropes as both critique and self-examination. Critics across NME, Pitchfork, Billboard, and Clash noted the track's satirical yet empathetic handling of celebrity-fan relationships. The video's theatrical, performance-forward aesthetic reflects a broader 2024 trend of electronic music producers recasting themselves as pop auteurs, bridging EDM legacy audiences with new mainstream pop listeners. Director notes: The official music video for 'KNOCK YOURSELF OUT XD' was directed by UNCANNY (Elliot Elder and George Muncey) and creatively directed by Bradley & Pablo. Released April 24, 2024 via Mom+Pop. The video features Robinson performing atop a plexiglass platform in a series of eye-catching outfits, complementing the track's lively and satirical pop-star energy. The production is consistent with UNCANNY's signature approach of marrying bold visual ideas with kinetic editing and theatrical staging.