Former Vampire Weekend member Rostam is set to release his third solo album, ‘American Stories,’ on May 15 via his own Matsor Projects label, with distribution through Secretly Distribution. This marks his first full-length project since 2021’s ‘Changephobia.’
Blending Heritage and Sound
‘American Stories’ will uniquely blend Americana and traditional Persian music. Rostam, born in Washington D.C. To Iranian parents, collaborated with Amir Yaghmai, a guitarist from The Voidz and also Iranian-American, throughout the album’s creation.
Rostam explained that the album became a reflection of his dual identity. “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 said. He described finding joy in juxtaposing Iranian and American musical elements, noting that combining microtonal saz melodies with Western guitar chords initially felt jarring but ultimately became captivating.
The album features contributions from a diverse group of artists, including vocals from Clairo on the track ‘Hardy’ and co-writing credits from Grammy-winning songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr. Other collaborators include Daniel Aged, Paul Cartwright, Gabe Noel, Hamilton Berry, Henry Solomon, Andrew Tachine, and Joey Messina-Doerning.
Tracklist Revealed
The complete tracklist for ‘American Stories’ is as follows:
- ‘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 already released the lead single, ‘Like A Spark,’ and shared a video taken from American Stories: A Concert Film, a live performance with his six-piece band at Sound City Studio A, set to premiere later this spring.
Following the album’s release, Rostam will embark on a North American tour in May and June, with support from Henry Solomon, Elori Saxl, and Zsela. He will then perform five European shows in September, beginning at London’s Village Underground on September 8, with Poor Actor providing support for most dates.
Pre-sale for tour tickets begins on Wednesday, March 11 at 10am local time, with general sale starting on Friday, March 11 at 10am local time. Tickets for North American dates can be found here, and European tickets here.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will ‘American Stories’ be released?
‘American Stories’ will be released on May 15.
Who collaborated with Rostam on this album?
Collaborators include Clairo, Tobias Jesso Jr., Amir Yaghmai, Daniel Aged, Paul Cartwright, Gabe Noel, Hamilton Berry, Henry Solomon, Andrew Tachine, and Joey Messina-Doerning.
Where will Rostam be touring?
Rostam will be touring in North America in May and June, and in Europe in September, beginning in London.
What aspects of identity and musical fusion might resonate most with listeners of Rostam’s upcoming album?
