Matt Bernings of National Unveils Second Solo Album “Get Sunk,” Featuring the Reflective Single “Bonnet of Pins”

Details of Matt Bernings’ New Album

Matt Bernings has announced the details of his upcoming second solo album, Get Sunk. Check out the host of the single “Kapot Pins” below.

• READ MORE: Matt Bernings from the National: “It was sobering to understand how fragile I was”

The new album is scheduled for release on May 30 through Book/Concord, marking the second solo project from the National frontman after his debut serpentined print in 2020. Click here to pre-order it.

This record features a blend of rich soundscapes and poignant lyrics, offering a deep dive into the intricacies of human experience. Contributors include Meg Duffy (Hand Habits), Julia Laws (Ronboy), Kyle Renik (National, Beirut), Garrett Lang, Buker T. Jones, and others.

Release of the Lead Single

On March 11, Bernings teased the upcoming album by sharing the first glimpse of the lead single “Kapot Pins”—a satirical take on some of life’s harsher realities.

The track is described as “Munack for World Building,” focusing on the minute details that render life tangible. Check it out below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twgz0ngseqm

The album as a whole encapsulates themes cultivated during “a long phase of isolation and self-reflection” Berninger experienced after 2020, delving into changing identity and self-esteem. “Our hearts are like old wells filled with pennies and worms,” he remarked. “I can’t help but explore the depths, but sometimes it feels as if you might become trapped.”

It builds upon the world Berninger introduced in his debut solo album, continuing to explore his evolution as a person.

“Berninger expertly portrays the sense of losing courage, while Get Sunk reflects a ripple effect in the water,” the new description states. “It speaks to the realization that your identity is intertwined with countless others: parents, friends, siblings, partners, neighbors, childhood best friends, cousins, children, and even strangers.”

Get Sunk Tracklist:

1. ‘Inner Ocean’
2. ‘No Love’
3.
4. ‘Frozen Oranges’
5.
6.
7. ‘Little By’
8. ‘Garbage’
9. ‘Silver Jeep (feat. Ronboy)’
10. ‘Time of Complexity’

Alongside the album announcement, Bernings shared plans for a series of live performances later this year.

The North American tour kicks off this spring, starting in Seattle on May 19. Other stops will include Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and more. Following that, he will continue the tour through Europe, with concerts in Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, and London in August.

Matt Bernings’ Solo Tour Dates 2025:

MAY
19 – Seattle, Washington – Showbox
20 – San Francisco, California – Bimbo Club 365
21 – Los Angeles, California – Palace Theater
23 – Minneapolis, Minnesota – First Avenue
24 – Chicago, Illinois – Waist Hall
26 – Toronto, ON – Concert Hall
28 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Union Transfer
29 – Washington, D.C. – Lincoln Theater
30 – New York, New York – Webster Hall

AUGUST
23 – Dublin, Ireland – Vikaraya Street
25 – Glasgow, UK – Galvanizers SWG3
26 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall
27 – London, UK – Troxy
28-31 – Tolland Royal, Wiltshire, UK – Konets Road Festival
31 – Utrecht, Netherlands – Tivoli Harmenburg

SEPTEMBER
1 – Antwerp, Belgium – OLT Rivierenhof
2 – Paris, France – Élysée Montmartre
4 – Berlin, Germany – Huxleys
5 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Vega
6 – Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller Music Hall

Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 14, at 10 a.m. local time. Click here to purchase tickets.

Reflecting on his experience of going solo back in 2020, Bernings mentioned to NME: “Most of my songs revolve around love or serve as a tribute to my essence. They are introspective expressions for my psyche. I write to convey thoughts I’d like to share, such as ‘I hope my daughter understands me,’ or ‘My mother will know this is about her.’ They encompass not just myself, but also the people who’ve shaped me.”

In a later discussion in September 2023, NME revisited Bernings to discuss his writing process and mental health. “While I don’t believe in ghosts,” he shared, “I recognize the power of believing in them. It’s similar with God. I don’t subscribe to the belief, but I acknowledge its influence.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlnrheks1y0

On the challenges posed by burnout and a lack of touring, Berninger elaborated: “I went through an extensive period of being completely drained and depressed. The inability to write induced a panic within me, fearing I could never return to it. The passion I have is irreplaceable, and when I was unable to engage with it, it was truly devastating.”

“I endeavored to rejuvenate myself in every aspect. I felt as though everything had crumbled. My brain was reduced to ashes, and I needed to methodically rebuild it,” he added. “This realization of fragility was quite humbling. Looking back, I can see how drastically I was affected. It was a combination of real and emotional issues leading to a complete paralysis. Now, I’ve learned to respect that fragility.”

For a more in-depth look, check out the full interview.

In addition to his new solo album, Bernings also hinted at new music from the National, expressing hopes for a punk rock-inspired record.

“The guys continually send me rock tracks, but I can’t fabricate it. There’s a distinct honesty that listeners can perceive; a contrived sound will fall flat. I have to be immersed in the zone to feel it, and that’s starting to happen more often. Yet during my darkest days, I found it impossible to channel any aggression—I could barely whisper,” he explained.

“Everything needs to feel authentic with us. I wouldn’t know how to initiate a song from a strategic career standpoint. Whatever happens, I have to create from a genuine place.”

He also shared updates on the long-gestating sitcom he’s been developing with his brother Tom called Das Apes: “Das Apes is alive, and that’s all I can say,” he told NME in 2023. “Nothing has progressed due to the writer’s strike, but we’ll see. I’m not eager to juggle multiple projects as I used to, but this is one that I genuinely want to pursue, and it may come to fruition.”