Rostam Batmanglij produced Clairo’s 2019 debut Immunity, and together they crafted the masterpiece (and third best song of that year) that is “Bags.” Seven years later, the pair has reunited for the latest single from Rostam’s forthcoming album American Stories. Titled after the late French chanteuse Françoise Hardy, “Hardy” is built around a sample of Georges Delerue’s score from Truffaut’s Day for Night. Below, watch an accompanying video directed by Antony Muse.
In press materials, Rostam described “Hardy” as “a song about looking forward and looking back. Ultimately, I hope it leaves you with some feeling of hope for the future.” He continued: “I’m so happy Claire could make a guest appearance and sing her own section of the song—I have always loved the way her voice communicates optimism.”
American Stories is out this Friday, May 15. The day prior, Rostam will share American Stories: A Concert Film, a full live performance video also helmed by Muse, to YouTube. His North American tour kicks off later this month, followed by a short run of European shows in September. Clairo released her last album, Charm, in 2024.
Read about “Bags” at No. 123 in The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s.