Rostam teams up with Clairo and Tobias Jesso Jr to reflect his Iranian-American identity on new album 'American Stories'

NewsMusic News Rostam teams up with Clairo and Tobias Jesso Jr to reflect his Iranian-American identity on new album ‘American Stories’ The musician has also shared the video for lead single 'Like A Spark' and announced North American and European tours later this year By Adam England 10th March 2026 Rostam. CREDIT: Antony Muse Rostam has announced a new solo album, ‘American Stories’, and fellow musicians including Clairo and Tobias Jesso Jr. are involved. READ MORE: Rostam – ‘Changephobia’ review: a new spin on the Vampire Weekend sound The former Vampire Weekend multi-instrumentalist’s third album will arrive on May 15 through his own label, Matsor Projects via Secretly Distribution, and is his first LP since 2021’s ‘Changephobia‘. You can pre-order and pre-save it here. Advertisement The album will see Rostam blend together Americana and traditional Persian music. He was born in Washington D.C. to Iranian parents, and he’s collaborating with The Voidz guitarist and fellow Iranian-American Amir Yaghmai throughout the album. “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. CREDIT: Press Along with Yaghmai, he’s joined on the album by a variety of collaborators. Clairo provides vocals on ‘Hardy’, while the Grammy-winning songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr. has a couple of co-writing credits. Also present are the likes of Daniel Aged, Paul Cartwright, Gabe Noel, Hamilton Berry, Henry Solomon, Andrew Tachine and Joey Messina-Doerning. The ‘American Stories’ tracklist is: Recommended ‘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 shared the album’s haunting lead single ‘Like A Spark’, which you can check out below. The video is taken from American Stories: A Concert Film, which will premiere later this spring. It sees Rostam team up with his six-piece band and director Antony Muse for an eight-song live performance at the iconic Sound City Studio A. Advertisement Meanwhile, Rostam will head out on tour in North America this May and June, supported by Henry Solomon, Elori Saxl and Zsela. He’ll then play five European shows in September, kicking off at London’s Village Underground on September 8. Bad Actor will provide support on all but one of those shows. View this post on Instagram Pre-sale begins 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 other Rostam news, he shared the original pre-Vampire Weekend version of ‘Campus’ last month. The track appeared on their self-titled debut album in 2008, and the original version is being released on a limited-edition seven-inch vinyl on May 15, the same day as Rostam’s album comes out. Pre-order here. Related TopicsClairoIndieLive Music NewsPopRostamTobias Jesso Jr.Vampire WeekendZsela You May Also Like Advertisement TRENDING Denzel Curry & The Scythe – ‘Strictly 4 The Scythe’ review: a fun, freewheeling rap link-up Mandy, Indiana’s speaker-blowing noise-punk is here to galvanise The Kooks to play The Great Escape 20th anniversary show presented by NME Christian Bale’s Frankenstein was inspired by Sid Vicious and Richey Edwards: “I’m a massive Manics fan” The biggest video game concerts you can’t miss in 2026 Advertisement More Stories Music News Madonna says she has the football shirt that Celta Vigo F.C. are looking for Music News Snail Mail announces more 2026 UK and European tour dates Music News Hayley Williams’ new group Power Snatch share captivating cover of This Is Lorelei’s ‘Perfect Hand’ Music News Bilbao BBK Live 2026: Calvin Harris and Westside Cowboy lead new line-up additions Music News Alice Cooper announces “definitive autobiography” ‘Devil On My Shoulder’ with UK Q&A book tour Music News Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026: Olivia Dean, CMAT, Niall Horan lead latest line-up additions