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Matt Berninger

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Matt Berninger
Berninger at Way Out West in Gothenburg, Sweden, 2014
Berninger at Way Out West in Gothenburg, Sweden, 2014
Background information
Birth nameMatthew Donald Berninger
Born (1971-02-13) February 13, 1971 (age 53)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
GenresAlternative rock
Occupations
  • Vocalist
  • songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active1999–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 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

  1. ^ Gaerig, Andrew (November 1, 2015). "EL VY: Return to the Moon". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  2. ^ a b Dawidoff, Nicholas (April 23, 2010). "The National Agenda". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  3. ^ 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]
  4. ^ Tang, Kevin (July 15, 2013). "19 Late-Blooming Artists Who Prove It's Never Too Late". BuzzFeed.
  5. ^ Chalupa, Andrea (May 17, 2010). "The National's Matt Berninger on Dirty Lovers and Even Dirtier Politics". HuffPost. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  6. ^ Fury, Jeanne. "Interview with The National". Virgin. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Hyden, Steven (May 13, 2010). "Matt Berninger of The National". A. V. Club. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  9. ^ "Happy Sibling's Day". Facebook. Retrieved November 1, 2016.[non-primary source needed]
  10. ^ Breihan, Tom (February 23, 2011). "Ezra Koenig, Matt Berninger, Sam Beam Immortalized in Oil Paintings". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  11. ^ "Matt Berninger – Walking on a String (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)". SC Distribution (Merlin). Retrieved October 18, 2019 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-national-matt-berninger-plots-debut-solo-record-serpentine-prison-2558524/amp
  13. ^ Hush (Theme From Turn) - Single by Joy Williams & Matt Berninger, retrieved February 2, 2020
  14. ^ "Matt Berninger & Andrew Bird – "A Lyke Wake Dirge"". Stereogum. July 8, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  15. ^ Walking on a String (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) - Single by Matt Berninger, retrieved February 2, 2020
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