UC alumni-led band The National named among greatest living American songwriters
A Cincinnati band with deep UC roots earns national recognition
Acclaimed rock band The National, co-founded by University of Cincinnati alumni, has been named by New York Times Magazine readers as among the 100 Greatest Living American Songwriters.
Following its own spring ranking of the 30 greatest living American songwriters, the magazine invited readers to vote for their picks, generating tens of thousands of ballots into a Top 100 list. The National landed at No. 85 on that list, joining a field that spans generations and genres of American music.
For UC, the honor highlights how far a group of Cincinnati kids with design portfolios and day jobs have come — and how their creative roots trace back to campus.
From DAAP studios to Grammy ceremonies
The National frontman Matt Berninger works on a sculpture for DAAP in 1996. Photo/provided
Frontman Matt Berninger, a 1996 graphic design graduate of UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP), has pointed to his design education as essential to the band’s creative process.
Bassist Scott Devendorf, who also studied at DAAP, first came to UC for music lessons at the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) before pursuing visual arts and co-op opportunities that helped shape his aesthetic.
Long before The National formed in Brooklyn in 1999, Berninger and Devendorf were part of a UC-born band called Nancy, playing house shows and small gigs between design studio all-nighters. Those early experiments in music, design and collaboration laid the groundwork for what would become The National’s signature blend of moody, layered rock and striking visual identity.
The National has since released multiple critically acclaimed albums, including “Sleep Well Beast,” which won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album. Their influence extends beyond their own catalog through collaborations (ahem, Taylor Swift), production work and film scoring.
Why this recognition matters to UC
How is The National connected to UC?
- Two members — Matt Berninger and Scott Devendorf — are DAAP alumni.
- The band’s visual sensibility grew out of UC design studios and co-op experiences.
- Their path from DAAP to global stages showcases the reach of UC’s arts, design and music ecosystem.
Why is this list significant?
Being named among the 100 Greatest Living American Songwriters by readers of The New York Times Magazine affirms The National’s impact on contemporary music and songwriting, and underscores how creative careers launched at UC can resonate worldwide.
Read more
- UC Magazine: Musicians By Design: Matt Berninger and Scott Devendorf of The National reflect on their formative years at UC
- Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincy-bred band among NYT's 100 Greatest Living American Songwriters
- The New York Times Magazine: 100 Greatest Living American Songwriters
Featured image at top: The National (left to right): Bassist and UC alum Scott Devendorf, guitarist Bryce Dessner, singer and UC alum Matt Berninger, drummer Bryan Devendorf and guitar/keyboard player Aaron Dessner. Photo/Graham MacIndoe
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