Matt Berninger

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Matt Berninger
Mattberningersziget.jpg
Matt Berninger at Sziget Festival, Budapest, in 2011
Background information
Born (1971-02-13) February 13, 1971 (age 42)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Genres Alternative rock
Occupations Vocalist
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1999–present
Associated acts The National
Website www.americanmary.com

Matt Berninger (born February 13, 1971[1]) is a Cincinnati native, Brooklyn based singer/songwriter, primarily known as the frontman of indie rock band The National.

Berninger is notable for his cool baritone voice.[2]

Personal life [edit]

Berninger is a 1989 graduate of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati where he played trumpet for the high school's band.[3] He went on to study graphic design at the University of Cincinnati, where he met fellow band member, Scott Devendorf in 1991 and they became best friends.[2]

Matt 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.[4][5] Together with Hope Hall and Andreas Burgess, Carin also helped direct the music video for "Bloodbuzz Ohio".[6] They have a daughter, Isla.[7] Matt has stated that the song "Afraid of Everyone" was influenced by his anxiety about being a new father.

References [edit]

  1. ^ United States Birth Records
  2. ^ a b Dawidoff, Nicholas (23 April 2010). "The National Agenda". NY Times. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
  3. ^ Motz, Mark D. (2008-01-31). "Volume V, Issue 9". St. Xavier High School E-News mailing list. http://www.stxavier.org/s/106/stxavier.aspx?pgid=1113. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ Chalupa, Andrea (17 May 2010). "The National's Matt Berninger on Dirty Lovers and Even Dirtier Politics". Huffington Post. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
  5. ^ Fury, Jeanne. "Interview with The National". Virgin. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
  6. ^ "The National’s Bloodbuzz Ohio by Hope Hall, Andreas Burgess & Carin Besser". Promo News. Retrieved 30 January 2011. 
  7. ^ "Under The Radar cover featuring Matt Berninger along with his one-and-half-year-old daughter, Isla.". Under The Radar. Retrieved 2010-09-13.