A Conversation with the Elusive Songwriter on His Debut Album
The Rubin Report: Brian, for years your music seemed to circulate like whispers in a room — home demos, rare live appearances, “I’ll get to it when I have the time”. Why now? What made you decide to finally release Up from the Cellar?
Brian Kraff: It was just finally time. I’ve spent so much of my creative life in basement studios, tinkering with songs for myself, trying them out with various bands, but never thinking about releasing them through traditional channels. I’ve been really contented to just be me — my own pace, on my own musical journey. Anyone who knows me knows that it has never been about being ‘known’ or wanting approval. This album is about me coming up from that basement — literally and metaphorically — and finally letting the songs breathe in open air. There’s a sense of both accomplishment and gratitude in this process, especially working with Bill Ryder-Jones. He understood where I wanted to go and helped shape the album into something I’m proud to share.
TRR: Bill Ryder-Jones produced the album. What was it like collaborating with him — and what did he bring to the project?
Brian Kraff: Bill is not just a brilliant producer and musician; he’s a beautiful human being. His instinct was invaluable. He listened to the demos and, within seconds, saw what the songs needed. He protected me from my own overwriting. He made sure the music stayed true to who I am, even as we pushed to refine the sound. The chemistry was natural, and I think listeners will hear that.
TRR: Up from the Cellar has a power-pop punch, although I can feel your temptation to be lo-fi. But there are echoes of classic songcraft — somewhere between Randy Newman’s wordsmithing and Nick Lowe’s eye-winking. How do you feel about those comparisons?
Brian Kraff: I appreciate the nods, which were certainly created by an aggressive publicist, but I shy away from suggesting my music is even close to worthy of those comparisons. Because it is not. But each song on this album pairs up with styles I enjoy — and at the end of the day, I’m lucky to simply write for myself. I’m not aiming for any specific audience, which lets me keep the authenticity intact. Most of my songs are a fusion of multiple stories, rarely literal, even if they seem autobiographical.
TRR: The lead single “Mistakes” drops in May. Can you tell us about the track, and its origins?
Brian Kraff: “Mistakes” really came together during pre-production at Blue Room Productions. Conrad Osipowicz, who engineered the vocals and drums, asked me about drumming on the track, and it ended up being an extraordinary collaboration. It was as if we’d played together for years. So, he ended up doing the whole album. You can feel that vibe in the recordings. “Mistakes” is a journey — an event that never actually happened but describes a feeling of excitement and regret that most people can resonate with.
TRR: You’ve penned hundreds of songs — why did you pick these tracks for your debut?
Brian Kraff: Picking the songs was probably the hardest part. I wanted tracks that represent the range of my influences, but also those I think pair well together. There’s a sense of overdue arrival here — for both me and the listeners who’ve followed me over the years. So, I leveled up a few of my favorites and then paired them with new songs from the last year. I tried to start the album at power pop, drift toward jangle pop, move toward alt-country and then get quiet, before rocking our way out at the end of the record.
TRR: For those who know you, what will surprise them about Up from the Cellar?
Brian Kraff: I think they’ll finally hear these songs the way they were meant to be heard. The production, the collaborations, the energy — it’s all there, but it feels more personal than before. I hope it feels both familiar and new.
TRR: What was the most difficult about the recording process?
Brian Kraff: The writing and recording process is so much harder than it seems. There’s just infinite opportunity to second guess. I was relieved that the Billy Joel documentary came out right as I finished this effort. He talks about how excruciating and lonely it feels when you’re trying to make something sound the way you want it represented.
TRR: What was the most gratifying about the recording process?
Brian Kraff: Every time there’s a breakthrough in the studio you feel it immediately — everyone looks at each other knowingly. It’s really cool. My favorite thing? Of the nine songs, Nathaniel Laurence (Yawn UK engineer who mixed the record) couldn’t decide between his two favorite songs. Bill favored a different one. And Conrad had yet a different favorite. And my favorite was different from theirs! So that has to mean something, right?
Up from the Cellar is out May 2026. Lead single “Mistakes” drops early May on all major streaming services. For advance listening or press inquiries, visit BrianKraff.com.
Barry Rubin is a New Orleans-based musicologist on a quest to attend and review 1,000 live shows. His newest venture is The Rubin Report, a set of interviews with indie artists in New Orleans and New York City.
New album out May 2026
NEW YORK, NY — Brian Kraff will release his new solo album, Up from the Cellar, in May 2026. Produced by Bill Ryder-Jones and recorded at Yawn Studios in the UK with engineer Nathaniel Laurence, the album marks the first time portions of Kraff’s extensive catalog will be released through traditional channels.
Lead single: “Mistakes” — out in early May (available on all major streaming services).
Some say his music might not exist at all. But those who’ve heard the songs — and caught the rare appearances over the years — know different. With more than 300 songs written over four decades, Kraff’s arrival with Up from the Cellar is long overdue.
Kraff explains, “Up from the Cellar is me coming up from the basement-studio environment into the open air.” He continues, “The timing was right. I am so grateful to Bill for his insight and talent — he understood exactly where I wanted to go… He’s not only a brilliant producer and musician; he is also a beautiful human being.”
Producer Bill Ryder-Jones says, “Within 10 seconds of hearing demos for this album, I knew I wanted to work with him. You can tell this music is uniquely Brian, regardless of the influences he openly reflects — the wisdom of a 60-year-old with the drive of a 30-year-old, and the curiosity of a 20-year-old mind. What more could you ask for from an unknown artist?”
Production: Produced by Bill Ryder-Jones. Pre-production, vocals, and drums were recorded at Blue Room Productions by Conrad Osipowicz, before the album sessions at Yawn Studios in the UK with engineer Nathaniel Laurence.
Sound: Power-pop punch with classic songcraft — think unpolished Marshall Crenshaw performed with singer-songwriter Graham Parker’s lack of self-importance (see This is 40). “I’m not sure that any of those are fair, and I’d prefer to shy away from the suggestion that my music is worthy of any such comparisons — it is not,” says Kraff. “Let’s face it, those are the words of an aggressive publicist. I simply put a handful of songs on this album that each pair up nicely with styles that I enjoy.”
Kraff says, “I am lucky to have the luxury of writing for myself, rather than for a specific audience. It is the best way to write a song with an authenticity that is worth listening to… That said, most of my songs are a fusion of multiple stories, so they are not literal, even if they sound autobiographical.” He appears occasionally as a utility guitarist and vocalist with NYC outfit Same Day Service.
Conrad Osipowicz adds, “During pre-production at Blue Room Productions, we recorded the demo for ‘Mistakes,’ and it had a vibe. I told Brian, ‘I’d love to do the drums for that track’ — and I ended up on the whole album. It was such a natural collaboration; you can feel it in the recordings.”
Brian Kraff is a songwriter and performer whose work has circulated for years largely through demos, occasional live performances, and word-of-mouth. Up from the Cellar (out May 2026) is his first wide-release solo album.
For more information, advance listening, press photos, or interview requests, please contact RRDI Music Publishing via BrianKraff.com.