The National and Dan Deacon Supply Music for Google Ads

The National and Dan Deacon have stepped up to help Google pitch its products and services in two new ad campaigns. If it seems unusual for these respective indie acts to land such highly publicized campaigns -- not to mention some pretty lucrative licensing deals -- it all comes down to having fans in high places.

Speaking about its 'Out of Office' ad, the National's Matt Berninger says the piece -- which trails a fan travelling down the West Coast to catch the group in concert with their song 'Apartment Story' providing the soundtrack -- took shape thanks to Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

"They showed us a rough idea a few months ago," Berninger told Stereogum. "It was as much a commercial for us as for Goggle so we were happy to help. Originally the ad ended with a YouTube clip of me climbing into the seats screaming in people's faces, but Google got cold feet about encouraging illegal filming of concerts. I think they are web only but I'm not sure. I wonder if we're censored in China?"

Meanwhile, D.I.Y. bard Deacon's 'Build Voice' is the musical accompaniment to the ad for Google's Chrome browser. Believe it or not, this isn't Dan's first ad -- his song, 'Pink Batman' was previously used in a Crayola commercial.

At the time he licensed that song, he responded to fan scrutiny, according to TrueSlant. "This is the first time I've let a large company license one of my songs," he explained. I've been asked by several others before but this is the first time it's been for something that promotes a company that creates a product that encourages people (children) to make art and to use their minds to create. Maybe I'm being naive but I used their crayons."