Kelley Stoltz on DIY recording, three new 2026 albums, and working with Jeff Buckley

“What I’m really in it for is just getting lost for seven hours a day in my music, leaving my worries behind and entering the spirit world of decisions that are made unconsciously with what keyboard to use or what sound to chase.” Kelley Stoltz has been making amazing DIY pop out of San Francisco for over 25 years, for such labels as Sub Pop, Third Man and John Dwyer’s Castle Face. His latest is If You Don’t Know Me, Buy Now and is his first of three albums planned for this year.

We talked to Kelley about the new albums, how he got into writing songs and home recording, and how he’s mostly ok with being a cult artist for the new episode of BV Interviews . We also talked about his time living in New York City in the ’90s where he worked briefly for Jeff Buckley (duties included sorting his fan mail), how he went from being an Echo & The Bunnymen superfan to opening for them and then actually joining the band, and his current role as a Robyn Hitchcock sideman. Plus: EBows, kids music, five records he thinks everyone should own and lots more.

You can hear our full conversation with Kelley Stoltz on the June 8 episode of BV Interviews , available wherever you get your podcasts and below.

_Originally reported by [Brooklyn Vegan](https://www.brooklynvegan.com/kelley-stoltz-talks-diy-recording-3-new-2026-albums-working-for-jeff-buckley-echo-the-bunnymen-more/)._