Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros On World Cafe

Alex Ebert, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros' lead singer, says that "Edward Sharpe" was originally a character that he made up to hide behind. In today's conversation, Ebert says that he and "Edward" have merged, to a certain extent. Still, he says, there's a tension between his invented persona and reality — which is why the cover of the band's latest album, PersonA, displays the name "Edward Sharpe" crossed out.

In this interview, Ebert discusses identity and touches on the how the departure of Jade Castrinos, his singing foil, has affected the group. This session also features performances recorded at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.