Vampire Weekend
A Class Act
Vampire Weekend front man discusses the band’s rapid rise

By Andy Argyrakis

When the blogging community goes crazy over a band, chances are the buzz will spread like wildfire, which is exactly what happened when Vampire Weekend emerged in 2006. Much of the chatter stemmed from the band’s ambitious combination of Afro-pop and alternative rock with hints of classical influence, generating comparisons to luminaries like Talking Heads and Paul Simon. Come 2008, the New York indie rockers thrust that robust, highly percussive sound on the world with a self-titled affair on XL Recordings (also the home of Radiohead, Adele, M.I.A. and the Prodigy to name a few of the label’s highly successful acts). From there, the whirlwind included massive critical kudos, the worldwide festival circuit, and perhaps most importantly, practically universal hipster acclaim.

Following the whirlwind of attention, Vampire Weekend was met with the task of recording and releasing a follow-up, manifested in 2010’s Contra, which was recorded in Mexico City after 18 months of consecutive touring. Surprisingly though, the fratty foursome doesn’t sound rushed on the ensuing ten tracks, instead offering an even more eccentric musical melting pot that now includes hints of ska, funk and reggae. Add in a tour that sold out in several major American cities within seconds, and the sensations may be around longer than most web-discovered flavors of the month. Just ask front man Ezra Koenig, who shrugged off the band’s brisk rise to fame by staying glued to the group’s creative goals.

How did the band initially react to the instant success of 2008’s self-titled CD?
We didn’t have to do too much reacting. We mostly just focused on touring. It didn’t feel entirely instant, anyway. It was nice that people were initially appreciating it, but we still had long way to go.

To what degree do you think the blogging community sparked interest in the group, and what is your opinion about the groundswell of buzz about the band online in general?
I don’t think our band is that unique in terms of how we started. Any band that comes out today will be written about on the Internet. It was important that people sent MP3s of our music around before the album came out. That’s how music gets around now.

Given all the time on tour in support of the new project, how were you able to hunker down long enough to record Contra?
We missed recording music, so as soon as the tour for the first album ended, we got started on Contra. It was intense, but recording is a nice break from touring and vice-versa. 

What are some of the musical similarities and differences between the two discs in your opinion?
It’s the same band. Similar rhythms, techniques and all that. We’re still inspired by a lot of the same music. I think the new album is a little more diverse. A wider array of percussion for example. I think there are some new feelings on Contra that we didn’t really get at with the first record.

From a lyrical perspective, are their any specific themes that run throughout the record?
Sure. Just like on the first album there are plenty of references to class and money. I don’t think I will ever stop being interested in that topic, even if I tackle it differently. I think the identity is also a big part of Contra. Figuring out what you want to do [and] how to define yourself, [plus] growing up and getting over the idea that the world is binary.
 
Let’s talk a bit about the live show, particularly how the band will translate in larger venues on this tour?
It was a challenge figuring out how to play the new songs live, but I think we’ve got it. Bigger venues require a different kind of show. As long as some kid starts crowd-surfing, we’re doing a good job.
 
What do you think prompted the tickets to sell out instantly in so many cities?
I think a lot of our fans still haven’t had a chance to see us live. There are people who are still waiting from when the first album came out. Luckily, we’ve gotten a little better.

How do you feel the band connects with college crowds?
We’ve also had a great time playing at colleges, but our audience is pretty diverse in terms of age. We’ve gotten very little kids and even the occasional senior citizen. I still feel like a college kid a little bit. We’re not that old yet.
 
What’s your overall take on the current state of indie rock?
I think music is always equally exciting. Sometimes, it takes a little searching out but there’s always some good shit out there. This year will be as good as 2009 and 1999 and 1967. Indie rock doesn’t mean too much these days, but that’s a good thing. Why should music be narrowly defined? It’s all great!
 
What are Vampire Weekend’s long term career goals?
We’ve already accomplished all of our goals. Everything else is icing on the cake. Maybe we’ll do a tour with additional musicians? That could be nice. Ultimately, I just wanna make albums and play shows. And when I fall off, I wanna recognize that I fell off and either go back to school or try something new. Maybe I’ll start a blog.