Overview of How Long Gone with Rostam
This episode features musician, producer, and songwriter Rostam joining Chris Black and Jason Stewart for a wide-ranging, highly conversational interview centered on his new album American Stories. The discussion moves between music-making, studio technique, fashion, guitars, fitness, and internet culture, with plenty of playful banter about modern media, celebrity, and the evolving ways people discover podcasts and music.
Rostam’s New Album: American Stories
A major focus of the episode is Rostam’s new record, which the hosts clearly admire. He talks about the project’s release, the artwork, and the accompanying merch, including a hat with the album’s flag-inspired design.
Key points about the album
- Rostam describes the project as deeply personal while still broadly “American” in theme and imagery.
- The hosts praise the record’s sound and packaging.
- Rostam notes that people have been responding well to the merch in the real world.
Music, Production, and Studio Philosophy
Rostam gets into the craft of making records, from vocal recording to finishing songs.
Highlights
- He explains how he handles vocal dynamics, including how he adjusts singers who move too close or too far from the mic.
- He recommends a multiband compressor and mentions a specific McDSP plugin he likes.
- He emphasizes that production is about belief and commitment, not just taking random loop submissions or chasing easy paychecks.
- He explains that producers often don’t get paid until a song is actually released, which makes the process more labor-intensive than it looks.
A notable takeaway
Rostam’s approach is less about “conveyor belt” pop production and more about being all-in on projects he genuinely cares about.
Guitar Talk: Heavy Instruments, Light Instruments, and Tone
One of the most detailed parts of the conversation is a guitar nerd-out.
Topics covered
- Rostam talks about learning on and appreciating Les Pauls, SGs, and other guitars associated with rock and punk.
- He explains how heavier, denser woods like mahogany can create more sustain.
- He shares a story about a battered old 1980 Gibson Les Paul “Second” that became a secret weapon on early Vampire Weekend recordings.
- He also discusses Joni Mitchell’s Parker Fly guitar, noting that its appeal is partly aesthetic, but also practical because it’s extremely light.
The broader point
The conversation shows how much Rostam thinks about the physical relationship between a musician and their instrument—not just tone, but weight, ergonomics, and feel.
Fashion, Fit, and Personal Style
The episode spends a surprising amount of time on clothing, especially how Rostam approaches style.
Discussion points
- His taste leans toward functional, design-forward clothing with some preppy influence.
- He talks about getting shirts cropped to fit better.
- He likes certain Issey Miyake / Pleats Please pieces, though he acknowledges they can be tricky to style.
- He describes customizing hoodies with alternate laces and other small tweaks.
- The hosts and Rostam joke about loafers, “queer-coded” style, and how fashion can be simultaneously practical, expressive, and ridiculous.
Fitness, Routine, and Daily Life
Rostam and the hosts also compare workout habits and city routines.
What comes up
- Rostam is very particular about when he works out and how he likes to train.
- He prefers exercise on an empty stomach and dislikes afternoon workouts.
- He discusses gym options in New York vs. Los Angeles, including boutique and private training environments.
- The conversation also touches on Pilates, running retreats, altitude, and endurance, with the usual How Long Gone mix of sincerity and sarcasm.
Pop Culture, Collaboration, and Legacy Artists
The episode also dips into Rostam’s broader world of collaboration and musical taste.
Artists and references mentioned
- Adele: Rostam shares that he once wrote songs with her in 2015, though they were never finished. He praises her as the real deal.
- Coldplay / Chris Martin: They discuss how major songs are often created at the very last minute.
- Ed Sheeran: Rostam describes a clever concert visual concept shaped like guitar picks.
- Counting Crows: He shares a nostalgic guitar-teacher story involving learning “Mr. Jones.”
- John Bryan / looping live shows: They talk about musicians who build tracks live onstage.
- The Beatles / George Harrison / “Jealous Guy”: The discussion turns academic and music-nerdy, with references to songwriting history.
- Drake: The hosts joke about Rostam possibly showing up in future Drake-adjacent musical territory, though mostly in a teasing, speculative way.
Media, Podcasts, and the Changing Internet
The episode repeatedly comments on how people consume media now.
Main observations
- Short-form clips and vertical video increasingly define how audiences discover podcasts.
- A New Yorker profile can coexist with viral clips, but the hosts acknowledge that attention spans are fragmented.
- Rostam says he’s open to more video content, but he and the hosts recognize that producing it requires real work.
- The conversation also riffs on “glazing,” online fandom, and how praise is often interpreted in exaggerated ways.
Final Takeaways
- Rostam’s new album American Stories is the centerpiece of the conversation and gets a strong endorsement from the hosts.
- He comes across as a serious musician with a strong sense of style, equally interested in sound, aesthetics, and craft.
- The interview is less a formal promo stop and more a loose, funny, insider conversation about what it means to make and present music right now.
- If you like music production, guitar lore, fashion details, and sharp banter, this episode has a lot to offer.