Rostam Announces 'American Stories' Album Featuring Clairo and Tobias Jesso Jr.
Former Vampire Weekend member Rostam unveils his new solo album 'American Stories,' blending Americana with Persian influences, featuring collaborations with Clairo, Tobias Jesso Jr., and The Voidz guitarist Amir Yaghmai.
Former Vampire Weekend multi-instrumentalist Rostam has announced his new solo album, ‘American Stories,’ slated for release on May 15 via his label, Matsor Projects, distributed by Secretly Distribution. This marks his first LP since 2021’s ‘Changephobia’. You can pre-order and pre-save it here.
The album promises a unique fusion of Americana and traditional Persian music, reflecting Rostam's Iranian-American heritage. Born in Washington D.C. to Iranian parents, he collaborates extensively with The Voidz guitarist and fellow Iranian-American Amir Yaghmai throughout the record.
"At some point in making this record I realised the album I wanted to make was one that reflected my identity as both Iranian and American," he explained. "Pushing the most Iranian elements right up against the most American ones brought me a certain kind of joy."
"The first time I put microtonal saz melodies over Western guitar chords, I was thrown off by the way the two rubbed together. But the more I listened the more I became drawn to that rub. I became addicted to it."
American Stories Album Art
Alongside Yaghmai, the album boasts an impressive roster of collaborators. Clairo lends her vocals to ‘Hardy,’ while Grammy-winning songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr. receives co-writing credits on several tracks. Other contributors include Daniel Aged, Paul Cartwright, Gabe Noel, Hamilton Berry, Henry Solomon, Andrew Tachine, and Joey Messina-Doerning.
The ‘American Stories’ tracklist is:
‘Like A Spark’
‘Back Of A Truck’
‘Different Light’
‘Hardy’
‘Forgive Is To Know’
‘To Feel No Way’
‘The Road To Death’
‘Come Apart’
‘The Weight’
Rostam has also unveiled the album's lead single, ‘Like A Spark’:
The video is extracted from American Stories: A Concert Film, set to premiere this spring. Rostam joins forces with his six-piece band and director Antony Muse for an eight-song live performance at the iconic Sound City Studio A.
Rostam will embark on a North American tour in May and June, with support from Henry Solomon, Elori Saxl and Zsela. Following this, he'll perform five European shows in September, commencing at London’s Village Underground on September 8. Bad Actor will support all but one of these shows.
Pre-sale commences on Wednesday (March 11) at 10am local time – more information here – with general sale beginning Friday, also at 10am local time. Find tickets for North America here, and European tickets here.
In related news, Rostam recently shared the original pre-Vampire Weekend version of ‘Campus’. The track, which appeared on their self-titled debut album in 2008, is being released on limited-edition seven-inch vinyl on May 15, coinciding with the release of Rostam’s album. Pre-order here.
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