Rostam Batmanglij Quits Vampire Weekend
Just two weeks after debuting a new solo track, Rostam Batmanglij (pictured above, second from the left) has announced he has parted ways with his band Vampire Weekend.
Batmanglij broke the news on Twitter, writing that he’s “no longer a member of VW but that Ezra [Koenig] and I will continue to collaborate on future projects + future VW songs.” He went on to say that he feels he needs to pursue his solo career as a songwriter and producer:
hi- I wanted to let ppl kno I’m no longer a member of VW but that Ezra and I will continue to collaborate on future projects + future VW songs
my identity as a songwriter + producer, I realized, needs to stand on its own. still connectled to the pply I work with, but throught the songs we make together
i can’t even begin to express the joy I get from writing songs, both on my own + with others, I hold it all sacred. there is so much amazing music—all of it dear to me— on its way to you. it’s an exciting time. and I feel lucky to share it with you
Rostam
Batmanglij, Koenig, Chris Tomson and Chris Baio co-founded Vampire Weekend in 2006 while students at Columbia University. They have released three albums together: their 2008 eponymous debut, 2010’s Contra and 2013’s Modern Vampires of the City. The latter album earned the 2014 Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
Batmanglij has produced a number of albums for the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen and Charli XCX. He has also worked with Ra Ra Riot and Haim. In 2009, he teamed up with Ra Ra Riot’s Wesley Miles as Discovery and issued one album dubbed LP.