by Luke Stockton

Rostam Batmanglij is far from an unknown name in the music industry. Songwriter for chart-topping indie rock quartet Vampire Weekend and one half of electro-funk duo Discovery, Batmanglij is no stranger to international success. Now producing and recording under the alias ROSTAM, the Iranian multi-instrumentalist is trying his hand at yet another new solo project.

He released his first track ‘Wood’ via Tumblr last autumn, a track that combines Bollywood strings and percussion with a lethargic sound Vampire Weekend fans will be familiar with. Second single ‘Don’t Let You Go’ substitutes peaceful beats for a backdrop of Samba drums in a song that sees ROSTAM draw on Latin-American influences to create something a little more brittle and fast-paced.

No news of any future productions thus far, but if his first two tracks are anything to go by, ROSTAM is one to keep an eye on in 2012.

ROSTAM – Wood by ROSTAM

Recommended tracks: ‘Don’t Let It Get To You’, ‘Wood’

Photograph: Pitchfork