Rostam Batmanglij Announces New Album 'American Stories'
Rostam Batmanglij will release his third solo album 'American Stories' this month. The record, consisting of nine songs and running about thirty minutes, explores themes of romance, disappointment, and political awakening. Batmanglij, a former member of Vampire Weekend, co-produced the band's Grammy-winning 'Modern Vampires of the City' before leaving in 2013. The album features a blend of American and Persian influences, incorporating instruments like pedal steel and saz. Tracks such as 'The Weight' address pro-Palestine encampments at Columbia University, while 'Like a Spark' opens with a blues riff and Turkish lute. Batmanglij collaborated with Clairo on 'Hardy', which samples Georges Delerue's 'Chorale'. He recently renovated a studio in Manhattan's Chinatown and has been posting behind-the-scenes videos on YouTube.
Key facts
- Rostam Batmanglij releases 'American Stories' this month.
- The album has nine songs and runs about thirty minutes.
- Batmanglij left Vampire Weekend after 'Modern Vampires of the City'.
- 'Modern Vampires of the City' won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album.
- The album blends pedal steel and saz, reflecting American and Persian sounds.
- 'The Weight' references pro-Palestine encampments at Columbia University.
- Clairo appears on the track 'Hardy'.
- Batmanglij renovated a recording studio in Manhattan's Chinatown.
Entities
Artists
- Rostam Batmanglij
- Clairo
- Maggie Rogers
- Haim
- Carly Rae Jepsen
- Charli XCX
- Frank Ocean
- Paul Simon
- Ezra Koenig
- Georges Delerue
- Hugh Wolff
- Ariel Rechtshaid
- Zohran Mamdani
Institutions
- Vampire Weekend
- Columbia University
- London Sinfonietta
- Pitchfork
- Rolling Stone
- YouTube
- New Yorker
Locations
- Washington, D.C.
- Manhattan
- Chinatown
- Los Angeles
- United States