(Photo Credit - Graham Ohmer)
EP Review - D.A. Stern: People Named Ben (July 16, 2021)
L.A. Based, New Jersey raised singer/songwriter D.A. Stern is back with his unique sound on his brand new EP People Named Ben which drops on Friday! Regarding his inspiration for the album, Stern has stated "So I wrote a batch of songs while wearing hula shirts and snagged a cheap vibraphone off of Craigslist. I wouldn't necessarily categorize this EP as lounge, but the attempt was to make something loungey and simultaneously modern that called to mind those dark barrooms and sugary, yet effective, concoctions with lyrics that extol the virtues of friendship found among them."
Stern hits the nail on the head here, as the EP is not solely lounge, but it is heavily influenced by that sound. However, People Named Ben also has a strong vein of alt running through it as well. So while some of the melodies and percussion sound like something you'd hear on a lounge track, other aspects of the music (especially the vocals) are inherently different. The mix is something quirky, fun, and easy to listen to. If you're looking for something a little laid back to move to, you can't go wrong with D.A. Stern's newest effort.
Rating - 3.5/5
People Named Ben can be ordered via BandCamp here!