The Natvral is an American indie rock band created as a vehicle for the talents of Kip Berman, who launched the project during the waning days of his previous group, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. In the Natvral, Berman's songs are rooted in melodies that harken back to the more artful side of folk-rock, vintage pop, and classic rock. His music is wedded to lyrics that explore the workings of human relationships, sometimes inspired by his responsibilities as a parent. Berman's debut as the Natvral, the 2018 EP Know Me More, was a spare, evocative four-song release that stripped his compositions down to just guitar and voice, while the 2021 album Tethers offered a richer, more full-bodied sound informed by classic rock while maintaining the emotional tone of the first EP.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart broke up in 2019 after releasing four full-length albums during their 12 years together. The last years of the band coincided with Kip Berman moving from Brooklyn, New York to Princeton, New Jersey and becoming a father for the first time. Feeling that his new life experiences were pushing him in a creative direction separate from the group, Berman cut a four-song EP, Know Me More, released in October 2018 and credited to the Natvral. The EP included three originals from Berman and a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne." Roughly a year later, TPOBPAH officially announced their breakup, and the Natvral became Berman's primary musical project. November 2019 saw the release of a new track, a cover of Dear Nora's "You Looked Like a Portrait" which, like Know Me More, featured just Berman's guitar and voice. He returned in December 2020 with "Ramona," a reworking of a TPOBPAH B-side that fleshed out Berman's performance with keyboards and viola. The first album from the Natvral, Tethers, came out in April 2021, and was the project's most ambitious set to date, featuring a full band with drums and keyboards giving the music a muscular, organic tone. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi