Matt Berninger
Matt Berninger | |
---|---|
![]() Berninger at Way Out West in Gothenburg, Sweden, 2014 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Matthew Donald Berninger |
Born | Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | February 13, 1971
Genres | Alternative rock |
Occupations |
|
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 1999–present |
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]
Berninger is notable for his classic baritone voice.[2]
Personal life
Berninger was born on February 13, 1971 with a predilection for beautiful lyrics and an immediate grasp of life's malaises. Berninger is a 1989 graduate of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati.[3] 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.[2] 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."[4]
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.[5][6] Together with Hope Hall and Andreas Burgess, Besser also helped direct the music video for "Bloodbuzz Ohio". They have a daughter named Isla.[7] Berninger has stated that the song "Afraid of Everyone" was influenced by his anxiety about being a new father.[8]
Berninger has two siblings: Tom (who directed Mistaken for Strangers, a film about The National) and Rachel.[9]
In popular culture
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.[10]
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.[11].
Discography
Albums
Year | Album |
---|---|
(TBA)[12] | Serpentine Prison |
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[13] | recorded for the TV show Turn |
"A Lyke Wake Dirge" (with Andrew Bird) | digital single[14] | ||
2019 | "Walking on a String" (featuring Phoebe Bridgers) | digital single[15] | recorded for Between Two Ferns: The Movie |
References
- ^ Gaerig, Andrew (November 1, 2015). "EL VY: Return to the Moon". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ a b Dawidoff, Nicholas (April 23, 2010). "The National Agenda". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- ^ Motz, Mark D. (January 31, 2008). "Volume V, Issue 9". St. Xavier High School E-News (Mailing list). Retrieved January 31, 2008.
{{cite mailing list}}
: Unknown parameter|mailinglist=
ignored (|mailing-list=
suggested) (help)[dead link] - ^ Tang, Kevin (July 15, 2013). "19 Late-Blooming Artists Who Prove It's Never Too Late". BuzzFeed.
- ^ Chalupa, Andrea (May 17, 2010). "The National's Matt Berninger on Dirty Lovers and Even Dirtier Politics". HuffPost. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- ^ Fury, Jeanne. "Interview with The National". Virgin. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hyden, Steven (May 13, 2010). "Matt Berninger of The National". A. V. Club. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- ^ "Happy Sibling's Day". Facebook. Retrieved November 1, 2016.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ Breihan, Tom (February 23, 2011). "Ezra Koenig, Matt Berninger, Sam Beam Immortalized in Oil Paintings". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- ^ "Matt Berninger – Walking on a String (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)". SC Distribution (Merlin). Retrieved October 18, 2019 – via YouTube.
- ^ https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-national-matt-berninger-plots-debut-solo-record-serpentine-prison-2558524/amp
- ^ Hush (Theme From Turn) - Single by Joy Williams & Matt Berninger, retrieved February 2, 2020
- ^ "Matt Berninger & Andrew Bird – "A Lyke Wake Dirge"". Stereogum. July 8, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ Walking on a String (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) - Single by Matt Berninger, retrieved February 2, 2020
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)