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Matt Berninger

American singer (born 1971)

Summary

American singer (born 1971)

Field	Value
name	Matt Berninger
background	solo_singer
image	Matt Berninger 2019 (cropped).jpg
caption	Berninger in 2019
birth_name	Matthew Donald Berninger
birth_date
birth_place	Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
genre	Alternative rock
occupation	Singer, songwriter
years_active	1991–present
current_member_of

Matthew Donald Berninger (, born February 13, 1971) is an American singer, primarily known as the frontman and lyricist of indie rock band The National. In 2014, he also formed the EL VY project with Brent Knopf of Ramona Falls and Menomena. They released the album Return to the Moon in November 2015. In May 2020, Berninger issued the title track from his solo debut album, Serpentine Prison, released in October 2020. His second solo album, Get Sunk, was released on May 30, 2025.

Berninger is known for his classic baritone voice.

Early and personal life

Berninger is a 1989 graduate of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. 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. 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."

Berninger is married to Carin Besser, a one-time fiction editor for The New Yorker, who has often contributed to the band's songwriting (in songs such as "Brainy" and "Ada" from the album Boxer, among others) and backup vocals. Together with Hope Hall and Andreas Burgess, Besser also helped direct the music video for "Bloodbuzz Ohio". They have a daughter named Isla. Berninger has stated the song "Afraid of Everyone" was influenced by his anxiety about being a new father. In 2023, he, his wife, and daughter moved from Venice, Los Angeles, to live in Connecticut.

As a child, Berninger knew Neil Armstrong, who was a family friend of his uncle. Armstrong taught him to play pool.

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

Berninger has discussed his battles with depression, calling it "like a flu that just holds on." He found that, with antidepressants, he was able to "find a way back to music and happiness."

In popular culture

thumb|upright|Berninger in 2011 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.

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.

In 2020, Berninger was the subject of an episode of the fictional erotic podcast, Dirty Diana, produced by Demi Moore.

In December 2023, Berninger was interviewed by David Letterman. The interview is up on The National's YouTube channel, and promotional material in the form of clips can be found on The National's Instagram account.

Discography

Albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions	US
AUS
AUT
BEL
(FL)
FRA
GER
Peaks in Germany:	IRE
NLD
SWI
UK
Serpentine Prison	Get Sunk
	161	32	20	1	82	19	11	18	25	21
	—	—	41	4	—	13	—	38	23	27

Singles

As lead artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album	US
AAA
Peaks on Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart:	US
Alt.
Dig.
Peaks on Billboard Alternative Digital Songs chart:	US
Rock
Air.
BEL
(FL)
Tip.
UK
Sales
"Walking on a String"
(featuring Phoebe Bridgers)	"Serpentine Prison"	"Distant Axis"	"One More Second"	"Pray It Away"
(with Hannah Georgas)	"Let It Be"	"Bonnet of Pins"	"Breaking Into Acting"
(featuring Hand Habits)	"Inland Ocean"
2019	—	24	—	—	—
2020	—	—	—	10	—	Serpentine Prison
—	—	—	41	—
21	—	—	6	—
—	—	—	—	—	All That Emotion
2021	—	—	—	—	—	Serpentine Prison
2025	9	—	47	—	—	Get Sunk
—	—	—	—	—
—	—	—	—	29
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released

As featured artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album	US
Alt.
Dig.
US
Rock
Peaks on Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart:	NZ
Hot
SCO
Peak positions for singles in Scotland:	"Representing Memphis"
(Booker T. Jones featuring Sharon Jones & Matt Berninger)	"Coming Down"
(Clap Your Hands Say Yeah featuring Matt Berninger)	"My Enemy"
(Chvrches featuring Matt Berninger)	"7 O'Clock News/Silent Night"
(Phoebe Bridgers featuring Fiona Apple and Matt Berninger)	"We All Have"
(Julia Stone featuring Matt Berninger)	"South For The Winter"
(Adia Victoria featuring Matt Berninger)
2011	—	—	—	—	The Road from Memphis
2014	—	—	—	—	Only Run
2019	17	28	—	96	Love Is Dead
—	—	—	—	If We Make It Through December
2021	—	—	37	—	Sixty Summers
—	—	—	—	A Southern Gothic
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released

Other appearances

Title	Year	Album	"I'll See You in My Dreams"	"Hush (Theme From Turn)"
(with Joy Williams)	"A Lyke Wake Dirge"
(with Andrew Bird)	"I'm Waiting for the Man"
2013	Boardwalk Empire: Volume 2
2014	AMC's Turn: Original Soundtrack
2021	I'll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground & Nico

Musical theater

Plays

Cyrano (2018), with Carin Besser, Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, and Erika Schmidt

Film

Cyrano (2021), with end credits showing "music written by Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner" and "lyrics written by Matt Berninger and Carin Besser"

Notes

References

Gaerig, Andrew. (November 1, 2015). "EL VY: Return to the Moon".
Shaffer, Claire. (2020-05-20). "Matt Berninger Announces Debut Solo Album 'Serpentine Prison,' Drops Title Track".
(May 28, 2025). "Music Review: The National singer Matt Berninger's 'Get Sunk' can't swim solo. It doesn't need to".
Green, Walden. (March 11, 2025). "The National's Matt Berninger Announces Tour and New Album, Shares New Song".
Dawidoff, Nicholas. (April 23, 2010). "The National Agenda". The New York Times.
Motz, Mark D. }}{{dead link. (January 31, 2008). "Volume V, Issue 9".
Tang, Kevin. (July 15, 2013). "19 Late-Blooming Artists Who Prove It's Never Too Late".
Chalupa, Andrea. (May 17, 2010). "The National's Matt Berninger on Dirty Lovers and Even Dirtier Politics". [[HuffPost]].
Fury, Jeanne. "Interview with The National". Virgin.
Redfern, Mark. (July 29, 2010). "Under the Radar Announces Wasted on the Youth Issue: Musicians and Actors on Their Childhood Memories". [[Under the Radar (magazine).
Hyden, Steven. (May 13, 2010). "Matt Berninger of The National".
Vertin, Annie. (2025-03-07). "Matt Berninger".
Pryor, John-Paul. (October 29, 2020). "American Beauty".
Rao, Sonia. (October 14, 2020). "Matt Berninger, king of melancholy music, is doing just fine". Washington Post.
"Happy Sibling's Day".
(2024-02-10). "The National's Matt Berninger on depression: 'It's like a flu that just holds on'".
Breihan, Tom. (February 23, 2011). "Ezra Koenig, Matt Berninger, Sam Beam Immortalized in Oil Paintings".
(October 17, 2019). "Matt Berninger – Walking on a String (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)". SC Distribution (Merlin).
(23 September 2020). "Matt Berninger: "Sono anni che mi sento emotivamente in lockdown"".
The National. (2023-12-08). "A Conversation Between Matt Berninger and David Letterman".
"Instagram".
"Matt Berninger, TLP".
"Discography Matt Berninger". australian-charts.com.
"Discographie Matt Berninger". Hung Medien.
"Discografie Matt Berninger". Hung Medien.
"Discographie Matt Berninger". Hung Medien.
"Discography Matt Berninger".
"Discografie Matt Berninger". Hung Medien.
"Matt Berninger Hitparade". Hit Parade.
"Matt Berninger full Official Chart history". [[Official Charts Company]].
(May 20, 2020). "Matt Berninger - "Serpentine Prison"".
"Rock Airplay: Week of June 21, 2025".
(October 17, 2019). "Walking on a String (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) - Single by Matt Berninger on Apple Music".
(May 20, 2020). "Serpentine Prison - Single by Matt Berninger on Apple Music".
(July 17, 2020). "Distant Axis - Single by Matt Berninger on Apple Music".
(September 23, 2020). "One More Second by Matt Berninger on Apple Music".
(November 17, 2020). "Pray It Away - Single by Hannah Georgas & Matt Berninger on Apple Music".
(February 19, 2021). "Let It Be - Single by Matt Berninger on Apple Music".
"Matt Berninger joins forces with Hand Habits on "Breaking Into Acting"".
Pilley, Max. (May 7, 2025). "The National's Matt Berninger shares contemplative solo album opener 'Inland Ocean'".
(8 February 2021). "NZ Hot Singles Chart". [[Recorded Music NZ]].
""Representing Memphis (feat. Matt Berninger and Sharon Jones)" from Representing Memphis (feat. Matt Berninger & Sharon Jones) by Booker T. Jones".
(April 2014). "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Share "Coming Down" Featuring the National's Matt Berninger, Announce New Album Only Run".
Bound, Chris. (December 13, 2019). "Phoebe Bridgers releases new single '7 O'Clock News / Silent Night'".
(28 January 2021). "Julia Stone shares new single "We All Have" featuring The National's Matt Berninger".
(January 2014). "Hush (Theme From Turn) - Single by Joy Williams & Matt Berninger on Apple Music".
(July 8, 2014). "A Lyke Wake Dirge - Single by Matt Berninger & Andrew Bird on Apple Music".
"Cyrano".
[https://tubitv.com/movies/100029653/cyrano ''Cyrano''] on [[Tubi]]

Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

1971-births living-people american-baritones american-feminist-musicians american-male-feminists american-rock-singers catholics-from-ohio the-national-(band)-members st.-xavier-high-school-(ohio)-alumni singers-from-cincinnati singers-from-brooklyn university-of-cincinnati-alumni 21st-century-american-singers

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