DA Stern (Photo by Aaron Oxford)
On Sept. 25, Los Angeles-based musician DA Stern will release his mixtape Mmxxtape, featuring covers and collaborations with artists such as Fat Tony, Colleen Green, Chris Tomson of Vampire Weekend, Party Nails and more. Now, DA Stern reveals “Tall Girlfriend,” the latest single to be lifted from Mmxxtape.
About the song DA Stern says:
The video for “Tall Girlfriend” is pretty much a literal interpretation of a joke. The song follows, more or less, a set-up/punchline structure so we wanted the video to emphasize the humor behind it. It was obvious that we needed two people who were exceptionally mismatched in height so casting was everything. Thaddeus Ruzicka, who directed the video, took it up a notch by introducing a story about a tall businesswomen’s convention, which always reminded me of Romy and Michele in the best way. There is no real reason for why I’m dressed in a cheap rococo costume, other than it was lying around and seemed to underline the surreal inanity of the whole thing.
Watch the official music video for “Tall Girlfriend” by DA Stern featuring Alex Winston on YouTube:
Few artists are equally skilled producers as they are songwriters. For Los Angeles-based, New Jersey-raised DA Stern, the two roles marry perfectly to showcase his playful deftness and signature wit. His full-length Slumberland debut, 2018’s Aloha Hola, was an impressive collection of ornate, hook-laden power-pop. Its proficiency and economy of writing recalled R.E.M. or Big Star while its simultaneously wry and introspective lyrics evoked Harry Nilsson. Though that album marked the first DA Stern release, his undeniable talent had been long evident. Raised in Bergen County, New Jersey, he cut his teeth in New York City’s music community with his band the Sanctuaries. After recording their LP in Nashville with longtime Yo La Tengo producer Roger Moutenot, DA turned to engineering and production, honing his craft at Beastie Boy Adam Yauch’s recording studio, Oscilloscope Laboratories. Working with such luminaries as Kathleen Hannah, Cat Power, James Murphy, Mike D, and Adrock quickly developed Stern’s studio chops as well has his Todd Rundgren-esque songwriting/producing double threat.