Ezra Koenig sat down with Scott Goldman for a live Q&A at the Grammy Museum followed by a Vampire Weekend acoustic performance, even bringing out good friend Danielle Haim of HAIM for vocals.  During the discussion, Koenig spoke in depth about his focus on songwriting and where he draws inspiration from. Some of his biggest influences came from Leonard Cohen all the way to Conway Twitty. During the six-year gap between Modern Vampires of the City and their newest album, Father of the Bride, Koenig said they spent countless hours in the studio going through hundreds of versions of the songs, adding instruments and changing lyrics each time. He also said that sometimes the final product would have a lyric from version one and a guitar riff from version one hundred and fifty. The following performance was intimate, you could tell everyone in the audience was a true fan.  After playing a few songs that included Harmony Hall and Unbearably White, the band took requests from the audience. Koenig, pointing at a couple in the front, said: “I remember you were at San Diego AND the Hollywood Bowl, so you get a request.” This kind of show is one that will forever stand out in the minds of everyone who attended.

Ezra Koenig Q&A

Vampire Weekend

Photo Credit: Stephen Hoffmeister