Photo by Josh Goleman

American rock band of Cincinnati, Ohio natives, formed in Brooklyn, N.Y., The National have shared a new single titled “Weird Goodbyes,” featuring Bon Iver, via 4AD. The single comes as the ensemble has been playing a number of new songs live since their return to the road this May; the latest single is a continuation of the ongoing tradition of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon’s collaborating with the band in the studio and on stage.

“It’s about letting go of the past and moving on, then later being overwhelmed by second thoughts,” said The National lead singer Matt Berninger of the song, which also includes strings by the London Contemporary Orchestra orchestrated by The National’s Bryce Dessner.

Of the process of making the single, Aaron Dessner, who is co-founder of the indie rock duo Big Red Machine with Vernon, said, “‘Weird Goodbyes’ was one of the first new songs we made. I was misusing drum machines, as usual, and stumbled onto this beat that got stuck in my head — it felt like something only Bryan could naturally play. We built the song around the beat. Matt’s melody and words felt so elegant and moving from the beginning — mourning a loss of innocence and motivation, holding onto memories and feelings that inevitably slip away and the grief we all suffer in weird goodbyes.” 

Dessner went on to explain how Bon Iver came to be featured on the track, “I somehow could hear our friend Justin’s voice and heart in this song from the beginning. We sent it to him and it moved him – he then sang with Matt so powerfully.”

The National are set to continue touring this summer and fall, with appearances at All Points East in London on Aug. 26 and the inaugural Sound on Sound festival in Bridgeport. Ct. on Sept. 25. Additional worldwide touring is planned for 2023.

See a full list of dates here.

Listen to “Weird Goodbyes” below.