Rostam shares cover of Vampire Weekend's "Young Lion"

"Young Lion" was originally released while Rostam was a member of Vampire Weekend. Written during the sessions for the band's second album, Contra, it is the only song on which he is the sole lead vocalist and sole writer, as well as the last song he'd contribute before departing the band.

The performances are live sessions lifted from Rostam's American Stories: A Concert Film, set for release this spring, as a companion to his upcoming third album. The new interpretations see Rostam offer new arrangements and instrumentation, mixing American folk with a Middle-Eastern-inspired sound.

Speaking of the new version of "Young Lion", Rostam says: “The piano melody in ‘Young Lion’ was always inspired by the Persian music I grew up with. In this version that line passes from Jack’s piano, to my guitar, and then finally to Amir on Saz. I love that this melody can live all these different lives inside this one song.”