Matt Berninger

Matthew Donald Berninger (/ˌbɜːrnɪŋɜːr/, born February 13, 1971) is an American singer-songwriter, primarily known as the frontman of indie rock band The National. In 2014 he also formed the EL VY project with Brent Knopf of Ramona Falls & Menomena and released the album Return to the Moon in November 2015.[1] In May 2020, Berninger announced that he would be releasing his debut solo album Serpentine Prison in October and shared the title track.[2]

Matt Berninger
Berninger in 2019
Background information
Birth nameMatthew Donald Berninger
Born (1971-02-13) February 13, 1971
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
GenresAlternative rock
Occupation(s)
  • Vocalist
  • songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1999–present
Associated acts

Berninger is known for his classic baritone voice.[3]

Personal life

Berninger is a 1989 graduate of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati.[4] He went on to study graphic design at the University of Cincinnati, where he met fellow band member Scott Devendorf in 1991. The two quickly became friends.[3] Berninger quit a career in advertising in his thirties to start The National. He told The Telegraph: "I was doing well [in advertising]. But, once I entertained the thought that maybe I wouldn't ever have to go and sit in conference rooms with MasterCard to discuss web ads again, I couldn't shake it."[5]

Berninger is married to Carin Besser, a one-time fiction editor for The New Yorker, who has often contributed to the band's songwriting ("Brainy" and "Ada" from the album Boxer) and backup vocals.[6][7] Together with Hope Hall and Andreas Burgess, Besser also helped direct the music video for "Bloodbuzz Ohio". They have a daughter named Isla.[8] Berninger has stated that the song "Afraid of Everyone" was influenced by his anxiety about being a new father.[9]

Berninger has two siblings: Tom (who directed Mistaken for Strangers, a film about The National) and Rachel.[10]

In 2011, a portrait of Berninger was painted by British artist Joe Simpson; the painting was exhibited around the UK including a solo exhibition at The Royal Albert Hall.[11]

In 2019, Berninger appeared in Between Two Ferns: The Movie. Along with Phoebe Bridgers, they contributed the song "Walking on a String" to its soundtrack.[12]

In 2020, Berninger was the subject of the third episode of the fictional erotic podcast, Dirty Diana.

Discography

Albums
Year Album Notes
2020 Serpentine Prison[13] to be released in October 2020

Other songs
Year Song Release
2013 "I'll See You in My Dreams" Boardwalk Empire: Volume 2 Isham Jones cover
2014 "Hush (Theme from Turn)" (with Joy Williams) digital single[14] recorded for the TV show Turn
"A Lyke Wake Dirge" (with Andrew Bird) digital single[15]
2019 "Walking on a String" (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) digital single[16] recorded for Between Two Ferns: The Movie

References
  1. Gaerig, Andrew (November 1, 2015). "EL VY: Return to the Moon". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  2. Shaffer, Claire (May 20, 2020). "Matt Berninger Announces Debut Solo Album 'Serpentine Prison,' Drops Title Track". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  3. Dawidoff, Nicholas (April 23, 2010). "The National Agenda". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  4. Motz, Mark D. (January 31, 2008). "Volume V, Issue 9". St. Xavier High School E-News (Mailing list). Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. Tang, Kevin (July 15, 2013). "19 Late-Blooming Artists Who Prove It's Never Too Late". BuzzFeed.
  6. Chalupa, Andrea (May 17, 2010). "The National's Matt Berninger on Dirty Lovers and Even Dirtier Politics". HuffPost. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  7. Fury, Jeanne. "Interview with The National". Virgin. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  8. Redfern, Mark (July 29, 2010). "Under the Radar Announces Wasted on the Youth Issue: Musicians and Actors on Their Childhood Memories". Under The Radar. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  9. Hyden, Steven (May 13, 2010). "Matt Berninger of The National". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  10. "Happy Sibling's Day". Facebook. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  11. Breihan, Tom (February 23, 2011). "Ezra Koenig, Matt Berninger, Sam Beam Immortalized in Oil Paintings". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  12. "Matt Berninger – Walking on a String (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)". SC Distribution (Merlin). Retrieved October 18, 2019 – via YouTube.
  13. https://www.stereogum.com/2085023/matt-berninger-serpentine-prison/video//amp
  14. Hush (Theme From Turn) - Single by Joy Williams & Matt Berninger, retrieved February 2, 2020
  15. "Matt Berninger & Andrew Bird – "A Lyke Wake Dirge"". Stereogum. July 8, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  16. Walking on a String (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) - Single by Matt Berninger, retrieved February 2, 2020
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