Matt Berninger, frontman for The National, has teamed up with singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers for a new single, “Walking On a String,” which debuts today with the duo’s cameo in the newly released Netflix comedy starring Zach Galifianakis, Between Two Ferns.
The single, which will officially be released for streaming platforms Oct. 17 via Dead Oceans, was written by Berninger, along with his wife/songwriting partner, Carin Besser, and Mike Brewer, and recorded with two members of The Walkmen, Walter Martin (guitar) and Matt Barrick (drums) and co-produced by Bridgers.
“Walking On a String” marks Berninger and Bridgers’ first studio collaboration, though the two have shared the stage multiple times with Bridgers joining The National. Between Two Ferns director Scott Aukerman is also no stranger to Berninger and his band (according to a press release, Aukerman gave the singer complete free-range control over the song choice), as The National guested on an episode of Aukerman’s long-running improvisational podcast, Comedy Bang Bang.
Check out Berninger and Bridgers’ duet in Between Two Ferns and stay tuned for the studio version on Oct. 17 (the press release notes that there are two versions of the single, one featuring “soaring, lush pop glory” and the other embracing “hushed, chilled-out Americana”).


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