Electric Elm is a collaboration between singer-songwriter Chris Bousquet (aka American Elm) and singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Eric Lichter (Earl Slick, Mercury Rev). Bousquet and Lichter are longtime friends who grew up in adjacent Connecticut shoreline towns, Clinton and Madison. Both men share similar affinities and affections for folk, country, rock, folk-rock, country-rock, power pop, and more - great songs from anywhere, everywhere, and nowhere.
“Sandra Ann” is their second collaboration, after 2018’s “A Long Road to be Free,” which was released under the American Elm moniker mostly to sync up with algorithms. But it’s 2024, they are tired of algorithms and have decided to release this and all future collaborations as Electric Elm.
As Chris says, “I used to call this a ‘fake band,’ but it’s very much a real band and a real collaboration. One thing you learn as a songwriter is to get out of the way; the best songs happen when you can do that. So when I bring something to Eric, we both know to just listen for what the song wants, and kind of get out of the way of that too. If you can surrender to that, magic happens. In the end it’s as much Eric’s song as mine. And if we’re doing it right, also, neither of ours.”
released January 8, 2024
For Sandra Ann . . . and for Richard
Hold on to the light with all you can.
Electric Elm is:
Chris Bousquet – lead vocals
Eric M. Lichter – vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass, drums, piano, Mellotron
Written by Christopher Bousquet
© 2023 Christopher James Buskey Bousquet/BMI
(P) 2024 The Cedar Swamp Recording Company
Produced by Eric M. Lichter
Engineered by Guido Falivine
Mastered by Steve “King” Wytas
Recorded at Dirt Floor, Haddam, Conn.
Haddam, Connecticut shines and sways
Artwork: Shandy Lawson
Catering: Lavigne's Grocery
Driveway Visits, Dog Walks, Dinners, and Nine Minute Phone Calls: Lisa Bousquet, John J. Capece, Gary N. Bousquet, Frank Critelli, Dana Clifton
Chicopee, Massachusetts is the Kielbasa Capital of the World!
Clinton, Connecticut is the Bluefish Capital of the World!
Thank you: Richard and Sandy Buskey, Hank and Pat Bousquet, and the entire Buskey/Bousquet family, the Krygowski family, the Gustafsons, the Hofhers, the kids on Kelseytown, Guido Falivine, Shandy Lawson, The people of Clinton, Conn., Cody and Lucy, Ollie, the Sisters of St. Joseph, Don & Phil Everly, Chicopee Falls, Mass., a Carolina Wren and the promise of better things
"It's a beautiful day, you should be outside!" -Sandy Buskey
Contact:
American_Elm@yahoo.com
www.facebook.com/americanelm
instagram.com/american_elm
CSR202401 THE CEDAR SWAMP RECORDING CO.