The National frontman Matt Berninger has released “Breaking Into Acting,” the second preview of his upcoming solo album Get Sunk, due out May 30 via Book/Concord Records. On this emotional ballad, Berninger collaborates with Meg Duffy, aka Hand Habits, creating an introspective atmosphere that explores the duality between authenticity and acting in our lives.
The music video, directed by Hopper Mills, features a meta cinematic narrative where various people watch Berninger and Duffy perform in front of a yellow screen, reflecting the song’s theme of the masks we wear in everyday life. Berninger comments, “Sometimes you have to fake forgiveness before you can really forgive” .
Get Sunk is Berninger’s second solo album, the successor to Serpentine Prison (2020). The album was produced in collaboration with Sean O’Brien and features artists such as Meg Duffy (Hand Habits), Julia Laws (Ronboy), Kyle Resnick (The National, Beirut), Booker T. Jones and members of The Walkmen, Walter Martin and Paul Maroon.
The album addresses themes of identity and self-exploration, inspired in part by Berninger’s move to Connecticut after years in Los Angeles. There, he engaged in creative pursuits that influenced the gestation of Get Sunk, an album that promises to be a deep introspection into the psyche of artist Matt Berninger.
“Breaking Into Acting” is a showcase of Berninger’s signature lyrical and emotional approach, offering a musical experience that will resonate with those seeking authenticity and depth in contemporary music.
You can watch the official video clip below:
