The National

Fronted by singer-songwriter Matt Berninger and comprising two sets of brothers - Aaron and Bruce Dessner and Scott and Bryan Devendorf - The National became one of the hottest indie bands of the 2000s after earning huge critical acclaim which helped them cross into the mainstream with their third album 'Alligator' (2005). They originally got together at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2001 on their own label. By 2003 they were collaborating with outside producers Paul Heck and Peter Katis on their second album 'Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers', a partnership that ultimately resulted in their breakthrough third album 'Alligator' in 2005. Full of sweeping anthems, it found them compared to established artists like Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and Tindersticks.

The cinematic storytelling characterising follow-up 'Boxer' in 2007 continued the momentum as The National became the critics' favourites and a powerful live act. They went on to campaign for Barack Obama's election to the US presidency and supported R.E.M. on tour before returning to the studio to make their fifth album 'High Violet' in 2010, named Album of the Year at the Q Awards.

'Trouble Will Find Me' was released in 2013, achieving a number three position in the charts in the UK, US and Canada and a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Album. Later the same year they released a documentary film titled 'Mistaken for Strangers' that followed Berninger's brother Tom as he toured with the band. After working on several projects and touring around the world, The National announced the release of their seventh album 'Sleep Well Beast' for 2017. The single 'The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness' preceded the album and earned the band a number one on the Billboard Songs Chart.

As well as album work, they band have had several songs used in TV and film including 'Runaway' which was used in the 2013 film 'Warm Bodies', 'I'll See You in My Dreams' in 'Boardwalk Empire' and 'Thanksgiving Song' which was in 'Bob's Burgers'. They wrote 'The Rains of Castamere' for an episode of 'Game of Thrones' and 'Lean' which was used in the soundtrack of 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' (2013).

2019 saw the release of the band's eighth studio album 'I Am Easy to Find', which features singles 'Light Years' and 'Hairpin Turns'.