"At some point in making this record I realized the album I wanted to make was one that reflected my identity as both Iranian and American. 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."
Rostam, former Vampire Weekend member and producer-songwriter, has announced American Stories, his third studio album releasing May 15th, marking his first album in nearly five years since 2021's Changephobia. The project reflects his dual Iranian-American identity, featuring collaborations with Iranian-American musician Amir Yaghmai of The Voidz, alongside Clairo and Tobias Jesso Jr. The album integrates traditional Persian instruments like the saz with Western instruments, creating a distinctive sonic fusion. Rostam describes intentionally juxtaposing Iranian and American musical elements, finding creative energy in their contrasting textures. He will support the album with a 2026 North American tour beginning May 27th in San Diego, concluding June 26th in Austin, plus UK and European dates in September.
Read at Consequence
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