Over the course of three albums, Vampire Weekend has cultivated a unique sound from a wide spectrum of influences, including experimental rock musician Keigo Oyamada (aka Cornelius). Vampire Weekend lead singer and songwriter Ezra Koenig has a fond memory of the musician, often described as Japan's counterpart to Beck.

"I remember seeing one of his first shows in New York when I was in high school," Koenig says, speaking to The Japan Times over the phone from a hotel in Portland, Oregon.

"I went with some friends and just the way he combined the visual elements with the musical elements really blew me away."