Ezra Koenig Quotes

Making every record is a process full of tough times.

As an artist you have the luxury of maybe presenting an issue in a certain way, as opposed to actually solving it.

I go to great pains to find the best yogurt and granola.

Sometimes you want to dress a certain way… that doesn’t always reflect your pedigree.

I went to Columbia University because I knew I wanted to go to a school that was academically rigorous. I prided myself on getting good grades, but I also hated it.

In Europe, I always have fun bike riding in Amsterdam.

Well, growing up in the ’90s, my first true love was ska music.

I do think sometimes there’s danger in guest appearance mania. I’ve seen too many examples that sound cool on paper, like ‘Oh, get that guy to sing the hook on that guy’s song,’ and then that’s all it is. It’s a cool idea that sounds good on paper.

My dad grew up in a working-class Jewish neighbourhood, and I got a scholarship from my dad’s union to go to college. I went there to get an education, not as an extension of privilege.

Musicals don’t get enough credit for being so surreal. It’s like an alternate universe.

I’m a huge fan of the Bay Area so I always love coming to San Francisco.

I’m pretty sure that the Walkmen are the band that I’ve paid to see the most in my life.

I like how Ralph Lauren creates a mystical world through his clothing.

I don’t like to generalize but I’ve had nothing but bad experiences with Mexican food in Europe.

Anyways, trying to express yourself to the press is often like arguing with a hysterical person.

I still to this day get the most inspiration from rap lyrics.

Playing ‘Tetris’ for 15 minutes is like meditation.

Some people say video games rot your brain, but I think they work different muscles that maybe you don’t normally use.

I still think that if you’re excited about something, you have to work at it.

You can be 24 and continue to live like you’re at college, or even continue to live like you’re in high school. Or you can put on a shirt and tie and pretend to be an adult.

It’s pretty cool that people will pay for something even though they don’t have to. It’s totally different now to back in the day. Now you’re paying for a record because you believe in the band. In the future that will be the only time people will pay for albums, because there’s some kind of connection.

No part of Manhattan these days really has the same vibe I get from a Ramones song or a Velvet Underground song.