Rostam’s long-anticipated new record, American Stories, arrives May 15, pairing Americana with Iranian musical textures and arriving alongside a concert film and a transatlantic tour. The project marks an explicit effort by the former Vampire Weekend member to bring his dual cultural heritage into the foreground—and it changes the shape of his songwriting and live show.
The lead single, “Like a Spark”, previews an album that interweaves microtonal Persian melodies with Western arrangements. Rostam says the record was born out of a desire to hold his Iranian and American identities side by side; the collision of traditions, he explains, became a creative engine rather than an obstacle.
A session video for the song is drawn from American Stories: A Concert Film, directed by Antony Muse and scheduled to debut this spring—a visual companion to the studio work that underscores the record’s live-intimate ambitions.
Musically, the album samples a wide palette. Contributions come from fellow Iranian American musician Amir Yaghmai (of the Voidz), longtime collaborators and guest vocalists, and several co-writers and instrumentalists who add strings, horns and chamber textures. The record was released on Rostam’s own Matsor Projects, distributed by Secretly Distribution, mixed by Tom Elmhirst and mastered by Emily Lazar.
- Notable collaborators: Amir Yaghmai (arrangements), Clairo (guest vocals on “Hardy”), Tobias Jesso Jr. (co-writer on multiple tracks).
- Additional musicians include Daniel Aged, Paul Cartwright, Gabe Noel, Hamilton Berry, Henry Solomon, Andrew Tachine and Joey Messina-Doerning.
- Production and post: mixed by Tom Elmhirst; mastered by Emily Lazar.
The album artwork continues the thematic inquiry into American symbols and contested meanings; Rostam has said he’s interested in how widely recognized imagery can carry different messages for different communities—a conversation the music aims to join rather than resolve.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 01 | Like a Spark |
| 02 | Back of a Truck |
| 03 | Different Light |
| 04 | Hardy (feat. Clairo) |
| 05 | Forgive Is to Know |
| 06 | To Feel No Way |
| 07 | The Road to Death |
| 08 | Come Apart |
| 09 | The Weight |
Why this matters now: the record arrives at a moment when cross-cultural collaborations are reshaping indie and alternative scenes. By foregrounding Persian modes alongside Americana instrumentation, Rostam is extending a conversation about identity and sonic hybridity that has practical consequences for programming festivals, streaming playlists and how audiences encounter global influences in contemporary songwriting.
Rostam is supporting the release with a tour that begins in late May and continues through June in North America, before a short European run in September. Below are the announced dates and support arrangements; lineups vary by city.
- 05-27 — San Diego, CA — Music Box (with Henry Solomon)
- 05-30 — Los Angeles, CA — The Ford (with Zsela; with Henry Solomon)
- 06-03 — San Francisco, CA — The Chapel (with Henry Solomon)
- 06-05 — Vancouver, BC — Fortune Sound Club (with Henry Solomon & Elori Saxl)
- 06-06 — Portland, OR — Aladdin Theater (with Henry Solomon & Elori Saxl)
- 06-07 — Seattle, WA — The Crocodile (with Henry Solomon & Elori Saxl)
- 06-09 — Boise, ID — Neurolux (with Henry Solomon)
- 06-10 — Salt Lake City, UT — The State Room (with Henry Solomon)
- 06-11 — Denver, CO — The Gothic Theater (with Henry Solomon)
- 06-13 — Minneapolis, MN — Fine Line (KCMP/Electric Fetus event; with Henry Solomon)
- 06-14 — Chicago, IL — Thalia Hall (with Henry Solomon)
- 06-15 — Toronto, ON — The Opera House (with Henry Solomon)
- 06-17 — Cambridge, MA — The Sinclair (with Henry Solomon)
- 06-18 — New York, NY — Webster Hall (with Zsela; with Henry Solomon)
- 06-19 — Philadelphia, PA — Brooklyn Bowl (with Henry Solomon)
- 06-20 — Washington, DC — 9:30 Club (with Henry Solomon & Elori Saxl)
- 06-22 — Saxapahaw, NC — Haw River Ballroom (with Henry Solomon)
- 06-23 — Atlanta, GA — Terminal West (with Henry Solomon)
- 06-24 — Nashville, TN — Basement East (with Henry Solomon)
- 06-26 — Austin, TX — Mohawk (with Henry Solomon)
- 09-08 — London, UK — Village Underground (support: Bad Actor)
- 09-09 — Paris, FR — La Maroquinerie (support: Bad Actor)
- 09-12 — Amsterdam, NL — Berghain Kantine
- 09-13 — Berlin, DE — Privatclub (support: Bad Actor)
- 09-15 — Stockholm, SE — Nalen Klubb (support: Bad Actor)
In the weeks ahead Rostam is expected to share additional visuals from the concert film and may release more live-session footage. For listeners, American Stories offers a clear signal of an artist refusing simple genre labels—one who is deliberately putting disparate musical languages into dialogue on record and onstage.
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Hello, I’m Atlas. I explore the latest musical releases for you and guide you to your next sonic favorites.