Ezra Koenig facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ezra Koenig
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Koenig in 2013
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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 singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist for the popular indie rock band Vampire Weekend.
Besides his work with the band, Koenig created the animated Netflix show Neo Yokio. He also hosts a radio talk show on Apple Music called Time Crisis with Ezra Koenig.
Koenig has won two Grammy Awards with Vampire Weekend for Best Alternative Music Album. He was also nominated for a Grammy for his work on Beyoncé's famous album, Lemonade.
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Early Life and Education
Ezra Koenig was born in New York City. His mother, Robin Koenig, helped design sets for movies and TV shows, and his father, Bobby Bass, was a psychotherapist. His family is Jewish and has roots in Romania and Hungary. Soon after he was born, his family moved from Manhattan to Glen Ridge, New Jersey.
Koenig has a younger sister, Emma Koenig, who is an author. He started writing music when he was about ten years old. His very first song was called "Bad Birthday Party."
After high school, Koenig went to Columbia University. While there, he wrote a blog about fashion, life, and culture. After graduating, he became an English teacher in Brooklyn through a program called Teach for America. His students remember him as a relaxed teacher who would sometimes bring his guitar to class. His teaching career ended in 2007 when his band signed a deal with a record label.
Music and Creative Career
Starting Vampire Weekend
In 2005, Koenig started the band Vampire Weekend. The name came from a short movie he made with friends on vacation. In the movie, Koenig's character tried to escape Cape Cod because he thought vampires were coming.
Koenig met his bandmates at Columbia University. He and drummer Chris Tomson were friends first. Then, he met Rostam Batmanglij at a party, where they discovered they both loved the band Radiohead and decided to start a band together. The final member was Chris Baio, who was Koenig's suitemate and shared his love for the group Destiny's Child.
The band played its first show in 2006 at a battle of the bands on campus. Soon, music websites like Stereogum and Pitchfork praised their early demo songs. This led to them playing sold-out shows and appearing on the cover of Spin magazine, all before their first album was even released.
Success with Albums and Awards
Vampire Weekend's first album, also called Vampire Weekend, came out in 2008. It was a huge success. Since then, the band has released four more albums:
- Contra (2010)
- Modern Vampires of the City (2013)
- Father of the Bride (2019)
- Only God Was Above Us (2024)
The band has won two Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Album, one for Modern Vampires of the City and another for Father of the Bride. They have also been nominated for other awards, including Album of the Year.
Time Crisis Radio Show
In 2015, Koenig started hosting a radio show on Apple Music called Time Crisis. He co-hosts the show with American painter and musician Jake Longstreth.
In each two-hour episode, they talk about fun topics like the history of snack foods, 1970s rock music, and answer emails from listeners. Famous guests like Jonah Hill, Rashida Jones, Mark Ronson, and Jamie Foxx have appeared on the show.
The Animated Series 'Neo Yokio'
Koenig also created an animated series called Neo Yokio, which was released on Netflix in 2017. The show is about a demon-slaying young man, voiced by Jaden Smith, living in a futuristic version of New York.
Koenig said the show was inspired by anime, but he calls it a "hybrid" or a mix of styles. He chose not to voice the main character himself because he wanted to work behind the scenes after being a frontman for so long. The show received mixed reviews and ended after one season and a Christmas special.
Other Projects and Appearances
Koenig has worked with many other artists.
- He sang on songs for the groups Discovery, Chromeo, and the Very Best.
- In 2014, he performed the Oscar-nominated song "The Moon Song" from the movie Her with singer Karen O at the 86th Academy Awards.
- He co-wrote and produced the song "Hold Up" for Beyoncé's album Lemonade, which earned him a Grammy nomination.
- In 2018, he wrote and produced the song "I Promise You" for the movie Peter Rabbit.
- He was a featured singer on the song “Tonight” by the French band Phoenix in 2022.
- In 2024, he performed at the 2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony in Paris with Phoenix and other artists.
Musical Influences
Koenig has loved music since he was a child. His dad was a big music fan and introduced him to New York bands like the Ramones and Blondie. In high school, he became interested in hip-hop groups like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.
He has also said that bands like the Grateful Dead and Sublime were major influences on his own music.
Personal Life
Koenig is in a long-term relationship with actress Rashida Jones. In 2018, they had a son together. In recent interviews, Koenig has referred to Jones as his wife.
See also
In Spanish: Ezra Koenig para niños
