Sometimes, even the most prolific musicians can hit a wall known as writer’s block. This creative drought can be exacerbated by depression, as experienced by The National’s frontman, Matt Berninger, during the pandemic. Recently, he opened up to Uncut about his challenges and how he turned them into musical inspiration.
In 2019, The National released their acclaimed record ‘I Am Easy To Find’ before taking an unexpected hiatus due to Berninger’s writer’s block. Fans eagerly awaited new music, and after four long years, their patience was rewarded with the band’s triumphant return in 2023 with ‘First Two Pages of Frankenstein.’ Their latest album reflects Berninger’s personal journey and the perseverance it took to climb out of the dark well of depression and writer’s block.
Berninger’s recent interview sheds light on his depression period. He candidly discussed the challenges he faced while attempting to create music during a difficult period in his life. His vulnerability offered a unique insight into the mind of a talented artist grappling with his own demons. Although he also stated that he generally conquers his demons by writing, he didn’t even want to do that and was even embarrassed by his depression.
He said:
“Usually when I’m in a troubled place, I can make something out of it, and write a song about it, and that does a lot to solve it. This time, I didn’t want to. I was uninterested in my own grief. I was uninterested in my own problems. I was maybe even a little embarrassed by it.
Then the longer I went without really exercising that [writing] part of myself the harder it got to connect to it. The untangling, or whatever the thrill is about making something out of nothing. I’d been writing sad, depressing music for a long time, then when it really hits me, when it all really catches up to me, I didn’t want to write about it any more.
I just could not articulate the fog at all. I didn’t want to put words to it. It just all felt ugly and gross and all the thoughts in my head were small and bitter and fearful.”
As Matt Berninger overcame writer’s block and the fog of depression, he channeled his struggles into music that will resonate with fans for years to come. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Berninger’s triumphant return is a reminder that sometimes, even in our darkest moments, there’s a melody waiting to be discovered.
