Rostam Pitchfork Interview
Pitchfork recently published an interview with Rostam, and it’s an insightful look into the thoughts and concerns of the singer and producer, best known for playing and producing in Vampire Weekend. Although I am not a music producer or aspire to be musically talented in any sort, I look up to Rostam as not only an artist but an openly gay public figure.
The interview covers a handful of music-related topics, including his new solo track, his work and growth as a producer, and a brief update on the next Vampire Weekend album. On his identity as a singer and producer, Rostam says:
“I understand the idea of me being “a dude in a band,” because people got to know me through Vampire Weekend, but it has caused a lot of frustration for me because I came from a different place from the get-go. Even though I’ve been making electronic music since I was 14, it’s hard for people to see you as a producer with a musical identity when you’re contextualized in a band that performs on a stage.”
At the end of the interview, Rostam reveals a bit of wisdom from what he’s learned writing songs:
“In some ways, the more that I write songs, the more I feel that telling a story is the most important thing; just being able to close your eyes when you hear some lyrics and go somewhere. It’s worth taking the time to do that, because people respond to it.”
You can read the entire interview over at Pitchfork.