The National [6 Music Artist Collection]

Live session tracks and interviews from the National's many visits to the 6 Music studios.

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The National recorded live in concert.

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A playlist celebrating The National, its roots and branches, curated by Kate Stables of This is the Kit.

Kate is a National fan turned National collaborator. Originally a teenage fan, just a few years later her band were opening for them before The National's Aaron Bressner produced their 2014 album Bashed Out and released it on the band's Brassland label.

In 2019 she sang on The National's 2019 album Easy To Find, and toured as part of their live line-up.

Kate knows her stuff so expect National anthem and National treasures

A playlist celebrating The National, curated by Kate Stables of This is the Kit.

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Matt Berninger, Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Bryan Devendorf and Scott Devendorf talk through the history of The National so far, choosing tracks and sharing stories about each of their albums, exclusively for 6 Music.

Recorded at the band's own studio, Long Pond in upstate New York, the five members of The National discuss how they made each of their nine studio albums, up to and including the upcoming First Two Pages of Frankenstein, which will be released this April. Beginning with the early days of the band, when they self-released their first two albums and worked day jobs to fund making music at night, the conversation takes us through the band getting their first record deal with Beggars Banquet through to the increasing success that followed with each album released; Alligator, Boxer and High Violet. They discuss the highs and lows of their songwriting and recording processes, choosing tracks as they go and going deep into the makings and the meanings behind those songs. They takes us up to their more recent, hugely successful records of the last ten years, Trouble Will Find Me, Sleep Well Beast and I Am Easy To Find, then go on to talk about the effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the band, how it led to the recent collaboration with Bon Iver on the song Weird Goodbyes, and finally how after around a year of writer's block for singer and lyricist Matt Berninger, they wrote and recorded their brand new album.

The National formed in 1999 and steadily gained popularity and critical acclaim over the 2000s, becoming a juggernaut in alternative music by the 2010s, headlining festivals across the world and being particularly beloved in the UK. They've sold around half a million albums with three certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry and two certified silver. They will return to the UK for a tour later this year.

Matt, Aaron, Bryce, Bryan and Scott talk through all of The National's albums so far.

Matt, Aaron, Bryce, Bryan and Scott talk through the history of The National so far, choosing tracks and sharing stories about each of their albums, exclusively for 6 Music.

[LISTEN NOW]