New York, NY (Top40 Charts) New York City outfit American Anymen have announced a new release with Lise, a Parisian singer and pianist. The 'OUI EP' is the second collaborative release for American Anymen and LISE. In 2014, they released a demo called the '+EP'. In the two years that have since passed, they have jointly played shows in NYC and Paris.
American Anymen is a music collective, whose view on art is that what you have to say is more important than the equipment you own and that passion is more important than technical expertise.
It was formed in 1999 by video artist
Brett Sullivan, who sings and wrote the songs on this album. Scott Fragalla is a New York native who has played bass with the band since 2004. Tracy Brooks plays drums and Flugel horn on this EP.
Sullivan met French artist Lise in Bushwick, Brooklyn a few years ago at an open mic, where they admired each other's performance. They decided that very night that they would co-create in a new music adventure.
Hailing from Paris, Lise's eponymous debut album was released in 2011 on French label Cinq7. Versed in piano since she was five, her music path took her on a detour from her classical music education at the Conservatory of Narbonne, having discovered
America for herself, as well as pop and rock music, her luggage now filled with new sounds, including Björk, The Pixies, Joni Mitchell, and The Smiths. Lise has toured the world and has undergone a transition to synth pop in recent years.
This album was recorded partially in Montrueuil, Paris and finally completed in Greenpoint, Brooklyn in the fall of 2016.
"The two American Anymen + LISE albums present more personal songs. These 4 new songs are about how I dealt with my time in prison, my 13-year battle with heroin addiction, the memories of friends who made me happy but are not around to hear these new songs, and how the world is much simpler than the ruling elites make us think," explains
Brett Sullivan.
"The temperature every year is a record setting high and there is still people denying climate change. I feel the summers getting hotter and the winters shrinking in NYC. I don't need a PhD to tell me we are destroying the environment. Things are less complex then they seem."
"OUI is the answer to all the questions about this EP," says Lise. "OUI, I'm really happy about this new chapter in my collaboration with American Anymen. Was the spontaneous home recording of OUI a real treat? OUI. Am i hoping for many more? OUI OUI OUI."
The multi-talented Erica Schreiner also contributed vocals on the song 'H' and contributed the cover art. She has performed under the direction of
Marina Abramovic at MoMA PS1, created videos for Nick Knight's SHOWstudio, had a solo exhibition at The Bill Hodges Gallery, published two books of short stories, and directed the feature film 'Satori'.
On Saturday, December 10 (8-11pm), American Anymen + LISE will perform at
Little Skips (941 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11221), playing tracks from their new "OUI EP" as well as separately. They will be supported by Frank Olson & The Olson Twins, My Friend & Me, and Max Miller.
TRACK LISTING
1. Nobody Made Me
Smile Like You Did
2. Less Complex
3. Does Anybody Remember Me
