10 minutes backstage with Rostam at the Ford

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Rostam performed songs from his new album, “American Stories,” at the Ford in Los Angeles on Saturday night. After the concert, which included a special appearance by Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes to perform a Bob Dylan cover, I spoke with Rostam about the album’s themes, influences, and even his thoughts on Coldplay. He’s also known for his previous work with the band Vampire Weekend.

I really like the song “Back of a Truck” on this new album. It reminds me of your previous album, which featured “From the Back of a Cab.”

You know, it’s funny – the artist also did a song called “4Runner,” and their first record featured “Bike Dream.” I’ve noticed a pattern – this musician really likes writing songs about vehicles! It’s something I’ve picked up on, and honestly, I find it kind of charming. I guess I’m just someone who appreciates a good theme, and clearly, they’re into transportation!

I’ve always been fascinated by the feeling of speed and movement. When I was growing up, I loved racing games like Crazy Taxi and F-Zero. I enjoy the sensation of time flashing by – whether it’s riding a bike, taking a train, driving a car, or even just going on a road trip. I guess you could say I’m a person who really appreciates the journey itself.

My first car was an 11-year-old Mercedes-Benz station wagon. It was really handy in high school because it had a third row of seats that could flip around, letting us comfortably fit seven people. It was great for carpooling!

Your previous album, “Changephobia,” was built, to my ears, around the saxophone.
True.

It sounds like this album heavily features pedal steel and the saz. Do you typically build records around a single, defining sound? I sometimes start with the idea of incorporating one element into every song. For this album, I initially envisioned each song as a storytelling piece, but that didn’t fully come to fruition. I also considered including Persian music in every track. Ultimately, I’m glad I didn’t limit myself to just one idea. I prefer making diverse albums and don’t want to create a record that’s strictly based on a single concept.

The album ends with the song “The Weight,” which is set on a college campus. I graduated from Columbia University nearly 20 years ago, in May 2006. John McCain spoke at my graduation ceremony, and he spoke in favor of the Iraq War. It’s all flooding back to me now, like a song by Celine Dion.

Having a documented connection to your Iranian background while a war with Iran is happening is a complex situation, and it’s an oversimplification to suggest it’s easily broken or destroyed.

I really cherish the freedom songwriting gives me – the ability to express exactly what I want, in my own way. I intentionally leave things open to interpretation; I don’t want to spell everything out. I put a lot of thought into my lyrics, and I want listeners to find their own meaning in them. While I’d love to explore other writing forms like memoirs or novels someday, it wouldn’t be the same. Those formats don’t offer the same creative flexibility.

One of the great things about songwriting is that it allows for open interpretation. You can carefully select your words, but you don’t have to explicitly reveal your exact thoughts or intentions.

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Interestingly, the opening verse of “The Weight” describes a rainy graduation day, and I believe it actually rained on yours in 2006. It was more of a drizzle, actually. I remember having lunch with my parents and another family, and while it was damp, it wasn’t heavy enough to ruin our meal. And that’s exactly why I’m mentioning this…

You can be a bit sensitive when explaining what your songs are about. I’ve been writing music since 2006, and I always consider how a song might be understood decades later. My goal is for the music to have a lasting, universal quality.

I was really inspired by Coldplay’s song “Viva La Vida” while making this record.

Rick Rubin believes the first four songs on an album are incredibly important – even defining whether someone will like the entire record. He once told me that, in his experience, people rarely fall in love with an album if they don’t enjoy those initial tracks. He focuses on the album as a whole, not just individual songs.

Someone gave a surprisingly odd response to my question. I really enjoy the album “Viva La Vida,” but I’m not a fan of the first four tracks on it.

You’ve been living in Los Angeles, but have recently been spending time in New York. Was your album, ‘American Stories,’ primarily created in L.A. or New York City? I finished recording it while going back and forth between both cities, but the majority of the songwriting happened here. Though, I do remember starting to write the song ‘Hardy’ back in 2012, in my old New York apartment before I moved to L.A.

Choosing between Los Angeles and New York as the better city for music is tough – you really have to pick one! I’m building a studio in New York, and I’ll be able to give you a proper answer once it’s finished.

You kind of squirreled out of it.
I’m waiting on the piano — it’s coming from England.

So, I was asked, given my mom’s a renowned expert on Persian cuisine, what’s my culinary specialty? I’d have to say it’s tahdig. It’s basically rice, but prepared in a way that creates this amazing, crispy crust on the bottom of the pot – it’s a real art form, and definitely my go-to dish!

I really don’t want to see it, but okay, show me the first picture that appears on Google when you search for Rostam.

This photo comes from a profile I wrote for the L.A. Times in 2021. You’re wearing a Metallica ‘And Justice for All’ T-shirt. Knowing now that this picture would become well-known, would you still choose to be associated with that album? I personally appreciate a certain grandness in Metallica’s music, though others might focus on different aspects.

I enjoy exploring the deeper meaning behind music, and Metallica is no exception. It’s part of what makes listening to music so enjoyable.

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2026-06-01 22:01