Safe To Disconnect

Safe to Disconnect was written and recorded during the week of April 5th 2020, at the onset of nationwide orders to shelter in place. Using an electric piano, Moog synthesizer, and an array of antique drum machines and battery powered keyboards, Jonathan Kirby assembled simple and soothing compositions on a 4-track recorder, drawing inspiration from the stillness of his North Carolina environs. During evening walks under towering trees in bloom, melodies would manifest, becoming songs by evening. Each song is named for the Winston-Salem street that it was conceived along. A limited number of tapes were made available, each containing a unique recording crafted for each individual. These personalized songs served as postcards and wellness checks to those who were experiencing varying shades of the same uncertainty. The vinyl incarnation of “Safe To Disconnect” was mastered by Emanuele Baratto at Big Snuff Studio and includes three previously unreleased tracks (19, 20, 21). The culmination of this bountiful period of songwriting renders a tender, private songbook that is succinct and engaging, melodic, yet relaxed. Containing nearly 40 minutes of music, this special vinyl edition comes housed in a high-quality Stoughton tip-on jacket, bearing artwork reminiscent of the hand-hewn rag rugs, ubiquitous in the rural south of Kirby's upbringing. As an album, Safe to Disconnect is a cohesive portrait of a casual instrumentalist, crafting comforting melodies, each celebrating the small daily victories of remaining composed and gracefully enduring during a disruptive and disorienting period in human history. Jonathan Kirby plays: Wurlitzer Electric Piano, Moog Rogue, Moog Opus III, Casio SK1, Farfisa SK 330, Casio MT-18, Yamaha PortaSound 130, Rotel RZ-8 Play Mixer, Roland TR-08, Korg SQ-1, Roland RE-201 Space Echo, Electronic Tanpura, Martin D16 acoustic guitar, kalimba