Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig Sings iLoveMakonnen, Xhosa-Language Song, More on Dev Hynes’ Radio Show

Photo by Kirstie Shanley

Blood Orange‘s Devonté Hynes and Terrible Records‘ Ethan Silverman have a show on the online radio station Know-Wave called “Yak Radio”. (Previously, Julian Casablancas was a guest.) Yesterday’s episode featured special guest Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig. They discussed topics such as Koenig being too nervous to cover Simon and Garfunkel at Ethan’s Halloween party, Koenig’s favorite song of all time (which you’ll just have to hear for yourself), Koenig’s dad’s job as a set designer (including for the new Keanu Reeves movie John Wick), and what songs Koenig has Shazamed (which turns into a long discussion of Hot Chelle Rae).

Tonight, Koenig is performing at Carnegie Hall as part of Angélique Kidjo’s tribute to Miriam Makeba. On “Yak Radio”, Koenig performed an a cappella preview of a Xhosa-language song that he’ll perform at the tribute. He also sings the chorus of Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth”, sings along with iLoveMakonnen’s “Tonight”, and even does a bit of Vampire Weekend’s “Unbelievers”. They also field calls from a bunch of Vampire Weekend fans. 

Listen to the whole thing, which is nearly two hours, above. 

Hynes is also in a new ad for the Gap that uses his song “It Is What It Is” from last year’s Cupid Deluxe. Watch it below. There’s also an interactive web cam game that involves wearing a striped shirt, just like Hynes does in the video. 

Watch Vampire Weekend on Pitchfork.tv’s “Over/Under”:

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