Anna Calvi and The National’s Matt Berninger Team Up for New Song “Is This All There Is?”

Key Takeaways

• Calvi releases EP “Is This All There Is?” Friday
• Title track features Matt Berninger of The National
• Song originally written for film “The Souvenir Part II”
• EP includes collaborations with Iggy Pop, Perfume Genius, Laurie Anderson
• Explores hope, parenthood, and existential questions

Summary

British singer‑songwriter Anna Calvi is set to release her new EP “Is This All There Is?” this Friday on Domino, featuring a title‑track duet with The National’s Matt Berninger. The song, originally written for Joanna Hogg’s 2021 film *The Souvenir Part II*, has been re‑imagined with Berninger’s baritone. The EP also includes collaborations with Iggy Pop, Perfume Genius and Laurie Anderson, and blends original material with covers. Calvi frames the project around themes of hope, parenthood and existential questioning.

Pulse Analysis

Anna Calvi’s career has been marked by bold artistic choices, from the guitar‑driven intensity of 2018’s *Hunter* to the stripped‑back reinterpretation *Hunted* in 2020. Her upcoming EP, “Is This All There Is?”, continues that trajectory, pairing her dramatic vocal style with the gravitas of Matt Berninger. By revisiting a song crafted for *The Souvenir Part II* and reworking it for a standalone release, Calvi demonstrates how film‑originated material can find new life in the music market, especially when anchored by a recognizable voice from an acclaimed indie band.

The collaboration taps into a growing trend where artists from adjacent genres merge fan bases to boost streaming performance. Berninger’s deep, almost ancient timbre complements Calvi’s soaring melodies, creating a track that feels both intimate and expansive. Beyond the title song, the EP’s roster—featuring Iggy Pop, Perfume Genius, and Laurie Anderson—offers a curated mix of covers and original pieces that showcase Calvi’s curatorial eye and willingness to experiment with sonic textures, appealing to listeners who value authenticity and cross‑generational dialogue.

From a business perspective, releasing the EP through Domino positions it within a label known for nurturing eclectic talent and leveraging boutique marketing strategies. The timing aligns with heightened streaming activity on Fridays, maximizing playlist placement potential. Moreover, Calvi’s recent charitable involvement on the HELP(2) album reinforces her brand as socially conscious, which can translate into stronger fan loyalty and media coverage. Collectively, these factors suggest the EP could generate notable buzz, drive catalog sales, and reinforce the commercial viability of collaborative, genre‑defying projects.