Matt Berninger has dropped a surprise EP, and it is called Type It Up. The National frontman released the six-track collection today, and it arrives as a capstone on the era that produced his last album, Get Sunk. The record bundles two new originals, two covers, and a previously released solo track — and it comes with a backstory that is almost too good to be true.
What’s On The EP
Type It Up runs six tracks, and it splits evenly between originals and covers. Here is the full running order:
| Track | Original / Cover |
|---|---|
| 1 | “Martini Me Fatso” |
| 2 | “Type It Up” |
| 3 | “Ask For Water” |
| 4 | “Blue Monday” (New Order cover) |
| 5 | “Who Loves The Sun” (Velvet Underground cover) |
The EP opens with “Martini Me Fatso,” the solo track Berninger released over the summer. That song arrived as a standalone release back then, but it now sits as the lead single for a larger project. The other two originals, “Type It Up” and “Ask For Water,” are brand-new material. The two covers — New Order’s “Blue Monday” and the Velvet Underground’s “Who Loves The Sun” — round out the record.
Berninger’s description of how the EP came together suggests the material is deeply connected to his recent touring. He told the source that these songs emerged from the momentum of the Get Sunk tour, where he was constantly tweaking lyrics and forms from night to night. Fans offered real-time feedback through audiences and social media comments, and some of that input shaped the final product.
The Chorus That Changed
The title track, originally titled “Black Letter Font,” had a problem. Audiences kept mishearing a line about a black letter font as something entirely different. Berninger describes the moment in his own words:
“On the song ‘Type It Up’ (originally titled ‘Black Letter Font’), people were mishearing the lyric, ‘That would look good in a black letter font’ as ‘I would look good in a black leather thong,’ so I decided to swap the chorus.”
That is a classic case of fan interference. The mishearing became the joke, and Berninger leaned into it by changing the song’s identity. The new title, “Type It Up,” now matches the revised chorus, and the original name lives only in the liner notes.
Berninger’s self-described fashion sense adds a dash of irony to the whole thing. He says he is “more of a black linen suit guy,” which is a far cry from the black leather thong that showed up in the audience’s ears. The joke is small, but it is the kind of detail that makes a fan feel seen.
The Covers And The Covers
The two covers sit side by side on the EP. New Order’s “Blue Monday” and the Velvet Underground’s “Who Loves The Sun” are both songs with strong histories, and together they give the record a sense of range.
The covers are not just filler. They give the EP a sense of range, and they anchor the new originals in a tradition of literate, melodic rock.
The Video For “Ask For Water”
The EP also comes with a visual component. There is a video for “Ask For Water,” which has a lyric about eating stickers off apples. The video is available alongside the audio, and it rounds out the release with a bit of visual context.
The video is worth noting because it gives the EP a multimedia dimension. A video for a track about apple stickers is the kind of detail that makes a release feel personal, even if the song itself is understated.
Release Details
Type It Up is out now digitally, and it will be issued on physical formats later. The vinyl edition, due 12/4, includes an additional acoustic version of “Martini Me Fatso.” That extra track gives collectors a reason to double down, though the digital version is available immediately for anyone who wants to hear it now.
Fans who want the full experience will need to wait for the vinyl, but the immediate availability of the digital version means nobody is left waiting entirely.
Why This Matters
Berninger’s surprise EP is a small gesture with a large heart. It is a collection of songs that feel like they belong together, and it arrives with a story that makes them feel personal. The fact that a chorus swap came from a misheard lyric is the kind of anecdote that fans will repeat for years.
The EP stands as a capstone on this era, and it captures the spirit of a musician who is still finding new ways to connect with his audience. The covers pay homage to bands he loves, and the originals carry the weight of recent touring. It is a record that rewards attention, even if it is not a massive statement.
The acoustic version of “Martini Me Fatso” on the vinyl edition is a bonus that will appeal to collectors. It is the kind of track that gives the physical release added value, and it offers a fresh take on a song that has already done the work.
The Bottom Line
Type It Up is a delightful surprise. It is a small record with big charm, and it arrives with a backstory that is almost too good to be true. The covers are solid, the originals are sharp, and the whole thing feels like a gift from a man who is still having fun.
The EP is available now digitally, and the vinyl arrives in December. For fans who have followed Berninger’s solo work, this is a welcome addition to the catalog. For newcomers, it is a perfect entry point into a songwriter who knows how to make a listener laugh and think at the same time.
The EP is a reminder that pop music can be both smart and silly, and Berninger has managed to balance both without losing his footing. The covers pay homage, the originals innovate, and the whole thing is held together by a chorus that was born from a mistake.
This is a record worth hearing.
See the video the story is built around at Stereogum.
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