Sarah Marie Hughes - Still Life (2021)

This recording took place in a late Summer afternoon in Alexandria at Jack Kilby’s home studio the Crab Shack. Once all the microphones were set up we asked Jack to just let the tape roll, and we improvised for about an hour with some fun, but mixed results. We took a break and hung out on the porch for a while, catching up and listening to the cicadas. When we came back in, the music really started to gel, and we recorded all the pieces on this record, which are presented in chronological order.

It is difficult to describe the uncertain feeling of that Summer. This session was our first time being together in months, and we didn’t discuss any real plans or expectations beyond wanting to play.

So much in our lives had changed and has changed since this recording, but this is how we were then. I remember thinking in that moment that we were like the buzzing cicadas, but instead of buzzing, we made this music. It’s just what we do.

- Stephen Arnold