Matt Berninger

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1971, Matt Berninger rose to prominence as the singer and lyricist for the indie rock band The National, formed in Brooklyn in the late 1990s. With that group, he shaped a dark, melodic indie-rock world, infused with touches of folk and alternative rock, carried by his resonant baritone and lyrics centered on intimate tensions, family, and urban everyday life. After relocating to Los Angeles, Berninger pursued parallel work as a songwriter outside The National, contributing to soundtracks and engaging in occasional collaborations with musicians from the American and European independent scenes. In 2015, he launched EL VY, a duo with Brent Knopf (Menomena, Ramona Falls), which released the album Return to the Moon that same year, featuring more direct, pop-leaning sounds. Berninger then embarked on a solo career with Serpentine Prison in 2020, a songwriter’s record with understated arrangements where influences of American rock, soul, and subtle orchestrations intersect, extending his exploration of slow ballads, nocturnal atmospheres, and first-person narratives.