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In a new article for The Sunday Times (UK), Ezra talks about Vampire Weekend’s new album ‘Father of the Bride’, supporting Bernie Sanders, and dealing with the state of the world.

“Everyone’s identity defines how they think about life. So I don’t get frustrated when someone doesn’t like Vampire Weekend because they don’t like my voice, or harpsichords. The only thing that’s bothered me is when people look at us through the lens of identity, but not through the lens of my very particular identity, as a Jewish American, born in New York, raised in New Jersey. It’s a big door to open. Clearly, the relationship between Jewish identity, anti-semitism and Zionism is complex, but if even the world of politics is having a hard time figuring out how to talk about it, there’s part of me that’s, like, I don’t need to encourage music journalists to do that!”

Read the full text under the jump:

From The Sunday Times (UK):

’Hold You Now’ - album opener; described as 'gorgeous’ and 'folky’ and has a choral sample from 'The Thin Red Line’ (a co-writing credit for Hans Zimmer)

’Married in a Gold Rush’ - a 'lush country duet’ with Danielle Haim (features the line 'we got married in a gold rush / but the rush never felt the same’)

’We Belong Together’ - also features Danielle Haim; described as 'gushing’ and 'an anthem that offers the line “Keats and Yeats/Bowls and plates” yet somehow isn’t annoying’

’Unbearably White’ - “'Infighting among white people about who is marginally more or less white is not particularly interesting,’ Koenig shrugs. Is that what that song is about? 'There’s an aspect of it.’”

’Jerusalem, New York, Berlin’ - album closer; described as the song 'set for most scrutiny’ on the album. 'The song seems sad, featuring perhaps the first reference in pop to the Balfour Declaration.’