The National

The National is an American indie rock band recognized for their evocative songwriting and consistent critical acclaim, leading to Grammy Awards and global chart success. Their career spans over two decades, marked by consistent touring and a distinctive musical style. After forming in Brooklyn in 1999, The National, comprising Matt Berninger (vocals), twin brothers Aaron Dessner (guitar, piano, keyboards) and Bryce Dessner (guitar, piano, keyboards), and brothers Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums), released their self-titled debut album ‘The National’ in 2001 on Brassland Records, an independent label co-founded by Aaron and Bryce Dessner. The band followed with ‘Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers’ in 2003, their first collaboration with producers Paul Heck and Peter Katis, which garnered significant critical acclaim, with some publications naming it album of the year.

‘Sleep Well Beast’ earned The National a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2018. The band also composed music for the musical ‘Cyrano’ in 2018, later composing the instrumental score and two new songs for its film adaptation in 2021. Their 2019 album, ‘I Am Easy to Find,’ was accompanied by the cassette box set ‘Juicy Sonic Magic,’ and in 2020, they contributed to Taylor Swift’s album ‘Evermore.’ In 2023, The National released two new albums: ‘First Two Pages of Frankenstein,’ followed by the surprise release of ‘Laugh Track.’ In 2024, the band released the live double album ‘Rome.’ They continued touring, playing at Glastonbury and Montreux Jazz Festival in 2024, and are currently writing their eleventh studio album.