Ezra Koenig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ezra Koenig
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Koenig in 2014
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Ezra Michael Koenig
April 8, 1984 New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Columbia University |
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| Television | Neo Yokio |
| Partner(s) | Rashida Jones (2015–present) |
| Children | 1 |
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| Years active | 2006–present |
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Ezra Michael Koenig (born April 8, 1984) is an American musician, record producer, and radio host. He is best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and main songwriter for the indie rock band Vampire Weekend.
Koenig also created the Netflix animated comedy show Neo Yokio. He hosts the Apple Music radio talk show Time Crisis with Ezra Koenig.
Ezra Koenig has won two Grammy Awards. Both wins were with Vampire Weekend for Best Alternative Music Album. He also received a nomination for Album of the Year in 2016. This was for his work on Beyoncé's album Lemonade.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ezra Koenig was born in New York City. His father, Bobby Bass, was a psychotherapist. His mother, Robin Koenig, worked as a set dresser for movies and TV. His family moved to Glen Ridge, New Jersey when he was very young.
As a teenager, Ezra went to Buck's Rock Camp. This was a creative arts camp in Connecticut. He graduated from Glen Ridge High School. Ezra has a younger sister named Emma Koenig. He started writing music around age ten. His very first song was called "Bad Birthday Party."
While attending Columbia University, Ezra wrote a blog called Internet Vibes. It was about fashion, identity, and modern culture. After college, he taught English through Teach for America in Brooklyn, New York. Students remembered him bringing his guitar to class. He was a relaxed teacher who connected well with his students.
During his school years, Ezra was part of many music projects. He formed an experimental band called The Sophisticuffs. He also formed a rap band, L'Homme Run, known for their funny song "Pizza Party." He played saxophone for the indie rock band Dirty Projectors.
Music Career and Projects
Vampire Weekend's Journey
Ezra Koenig formed the indie rock band Vampire Weekend in 2005. The band's name came from an unreleased film Ezra and his friends made. In the film, Ezra played a character trying to escape Cape Cod from vampires. Many songs on their first album were inspired by this film.
Ezra met his bandmates at Columbia University. He met drummer Chris Tomson and then Rostam Batmanglij. Ezra and Rostam quickly became friends over their shared love for Radiohead. Chris Baio, Ezra's roommate, joined the group too. They all loved Destiny's Child.
The band played their first show in 2006. It was a battle of the bands in a college basement. They came in third place. Later that year, their demo songs appeared online. Music websites like Stereogum and Pitchfork praised them. Soon, they were selling out shows and appearing on the cover of Spin. This happened even before they released their first album!
Their first album, Vampire Weekend, came out on January 29, 2008. By the end of that year, they had performed on Saturday Night Live. They also played for 40,000 fans at England's Glastonbury festival. The band has since released four more albums: Contra (2010), Modern Vampires of the City (2013), Father of the Bride (2019), and Only God Was Above Us (2024).
Vampire Weekend has been nominated for many Grammy Awards. In 2014, Modern Vampires of the City won the award for Best Alternative Music Album. In 2020, Father of the Bride won the same award again. It was also nominated for Album of the Year.
Time Crisis Radio Show
In 2015, Ezra Koenig started hosting his own radio show on Apple Music. The show is called Time Crisis. Ezra hosts it with Jake Longstreth, who is a painter and musician.
Each episode of Time Crisis lasts two hours. Ezra and Jake talk about many interesting things. They discuss the history of snack foods and 1970s rock music. They also answer emails from listeners. The show often ends with "The Top Five," where they compare current popular songs to songs from a past week.
Many famous guests have appeared on the show. These include Jonah Hill, Rashida Jones, Mark Ronson, and Jamie Foxx. New episodes air every two weeks.
Neo Yokio Animated Series
Ezra Koenig created the animated series Neo Yokio. It first appeared on Netflix in September 2017. The show was written and produced a few years earlier.
Neo Yokio looks like an anime series. However, Ezra has said it is "anime-inspired" and a "hybrid." He wanted to create something that honored anime but was also a loving parody. Ezra chose not to voice the main character himself. He wanted to work behind the scenes for this project.
When it was released, the show received mixed reviews from critics. Some liked its unique style, while others found the story confusing. Netflix canceled the show after one season and a Christmas special.
Other Creative Work
Ezra Koenig has worked on many other music projects. In 2009, he sang on the song "Carby" by the group Discovery. He also appeared on songs by the Very Best and Chromeo.
In 2012, Ezra performed "I Think Ur a Contra" with Angelique Kidjo. He was in the music video for Duck Sauce's "Barbra Streisand." His recording of "Papa Hobo" by Paul Simon was used in the film Ceremony.
In 2013, Ezra was featured in the song "Jessica" by Major Lazer.
In 2014, he appeared on songs by Chromeo and SBTRKT. He also had a role in the HBO show Girls. He voiced the character Ryland on the animated series Major Lazer. At the 86th Academy Awards, Ezra played guitar and sang backup for Karen O. She performed "The Moon Song" from the movie Her.
In 2016, Ezra helped write and produce the song "Hold Up" for Beyoncé. This work earned him a Grammy nomination for her album Lemonade.
In 2017, Ezra appeared in Charli XCX's music video for "Boys."
In 2018, he helped write and produce the song "I Promise You" for James Corden. This song was from the movie Peter Rabbit.
In 2022, Ezra helped write and produce "Moscow Rules" for Liam Gallagher. He also played several instruments on Gallagher's album. That same year, he was a singer on Phoenix's song “Tonight.”
On August 11, 2024, Ezra performed at the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. He was with Phoenix, Angèle, Vannda, and Kavinsky.
Musical Influences
Ezra Koenig has loved music since he was nine years old. His dad was a huge music fan. Growing up, his dad bought new music all the time. Ezra became familiar with bands like the Ramones, Run DMC, and Blondie. These were all important New York music groups.
When he was in high school, Ezra's musical tastes changed a bit. He had older friends who loved hip-hop. He listened to groups like De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest. Ezra also enjoys bands like the Grateful Dead and Sublime. He believes these bands greatly shaped his own musical style.
Personal Life
In August 2018, Ezra Koenig and his partner, actress Rashida Jones, had a son. In recent interviews, Ezra has referred to Rashida Jones as his wife.
Images for kids
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Koenig in 2014
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Koenig performing with Vampire Weekend (2014)
