James Brooks (electronic musician)

James Brooks (born May 2, 1984) is a Canadian-American electronic musician.

James Brooks
Birth name Edward James Brooks
Born (1984-05-02) May 2, 1984
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • music engineer
  • visual artist
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboard
  • piano
  • guitar
  • bass
  • harmonica
Years active 2009–present
Associated acts
Website soundcloud.com/magicalpessimism

Career

2009-2013: Elite Gymnastics

Elite Gymnastics
Origin Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres
Years active 2009–2013
Labels Acéphale
Associated acts
Website elitegymnastics.tumblr.com
Past members James Brooks
Joshua Clancy

Elite Gymnastics, self described as a "multimedia art project", was an electronic music duo from Minneapolis, Minnesota and later a solo project from Vancouver, British Columbia. Formed in Minneapolis in 2009 as a duo of James Brooks and Josh Clancy, Elite Gymnastics self released several EPs and mixtapes before Clancy's departure in 2012.[1][2]

As a duo, they released six EPs for which Brooks can be credited with most of the songwriting and musical production and Clancy with most of the album artwork: Real Friends, Neu! '92, Gizzard Greens, Ruin (and its B-side, Ruin 2), Ruin 3, and Ruin 4, with Gizzard Greens being a digital double EP of a cover of Cheryl's "Parachute", a mashup of Sub Focus' remix of Rusko's "Hold On" featuring Amber Coffman with Blame's "Piano Takes You", and two bootleg remixes (of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" and Waka Flocka Flame's "Fuck the Club Up" featuring Pastor Troy and Slim Dunkin). The Ruin EP was well received by Pitchfork magazine and given a 7.8 album review rating, and was released to critical acclaim among a number of smaller publications which quickly earned them a cult following online where they later released most of their music through Tumblr as free digital downloads.[3][4] Ruin saw a physical release in vinyl format under the electronic label Acéphale, with the B-side, or Ruin 2, being five remixed versions of the six original tracks, and their previous albums were released digitally for free through their own Tumblr-based Psychedelic Surf Club imprint. Ruin and Ruin 2 were later self released for free download as a digital double EP.

Josh Clancy's departure

Following a 2012 tour as a supporting act for Sleigh Bells, Elite Gymnastics became Brooks' solo project with Clancy parting ways after what was reportedly a tumultuous experience on the road. "Our personal relationship is kinda kaput for the time being," Brooks describes in a Tumblr post detailing some of the reasons he decided to continue the project solo.[5][6] Brooks continued the project solo, relocating to Vancouver following a stint in New York City, releasing the single "Andreja 4-Ever" as part of the Adult Swim Singles Program the same year.[7][8]

The name Elite Gymnastics was taken from the lyrics of "Ruthless Babysitting" by power electronics group Whitehouse.

2013-2015: Default Genders

Default Genders
Origin Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genres
Years active 2013–2015
Associated acts
Website soundcloud.com/magicalpessimism
Past members James Brooks

The solo form of Elite Gymnastics only saw the release of single "Andreja 4-Ever" and a couple of remixes (for Sky Ferreira and How to Dress Well) before Brooks decided to rename the project; first to Dead Girlfriends, then to Default Genders.[9][10]

Dead Girlfriends & "On Fraternity" controversy

The release of single "On Fraternity" from the "Stop Pretending" debut EP, in association with the name "Dead Girlfriends", caused a substantial amount of controversy and prompted a series of articles by various publications and an online round table discussion by Spin magazine.[11][12][13] Brooks rechristened the project "Default Genders" shortly thereafter.

2015-present: Eponymity

Brooks has since relocated to Los Angeles, California, and now makes music under his real name, as evidenced by demos and bootleg remixes uploaded to his SoundCloud, though none have been made available for download. Since the closure of his personal blog on Tumblr, little information about his current work has been made public, though he did reveal in a post that any forthcoming releases will most likely be under the name James Brooks.

Discography

Elite Gymnastics

Extended plays

  • Real Friends (2010)
  • Gizzard Greens (2010)
  • Neu! '92 (2011)
  • Ruin (2011)
  • Ruin 3 (2012)
  • Ruin 4 (2012)

Singles

  • "Life/Trap" (2012)
  • "Andreja 4-Ever" (2012)

Unreleased songs

  • "Real Love (The Hedgehog's Dilemma)" (2010)[14]
  • "Walls" (2011)[15]

Remixes

  • Florrie - "Come Back to Mine (Elite Gymnastics Remix)" (2010)[16]
  • How to Dress Well - "Suicide Dream 2 (Elite Gymnastics Baptism)" (2011)[17][18][19][20][21][22]
  • How to Dress Well - "& It Was U (Elite Gymnastics Remix)" (2013)[23][24][25][26]
  • Korallreven - "Sa Sa Samoa (Elite Gymnastics Remix)"
  • Mozart Parties - "Where Has Everybody Gone? (Elite Gymnastics Remix)"
  • Sky Ferreira - "Red Lips (Elite Gymnastics Remix)"

Mixtapes

Default Genders

Studio albums

  • Magical Pessimism 2014 (2014)

Extended plays

  • Stop Pretending (2013)

Singles

  • "On Fraternity" (2013)

Mixtapes

References

  1. ↑ "Josh Clancy Leaves Elite Gymnastics". Pitchfork.
  2. ↑ "Josh Clancy Leaves Elite Gymnastics". The 405.
  3. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics Ruin". Pitchfork.
  4. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics". Pitchfork.
  5. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics and Javelin Tour With Sleigh Bells". Pitchfork.
  6. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics now James Brooks' solo project -- Josh Clancy leaves group". City Pages.
  7. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics". Pitchfork.
  8. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics Goes Solo, Gets Emo on 'Andreja 4-Ever'". Spin.
  9. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics Changes Name To Dead Girlfriends, Releases New EP". Stereogum.
  10. ↑ "James Brooks Kills Elite Gymnastics, Returns as Dead Girlfriends". Spin.
  11. ↑ "Deconstructing: Dead Girlfriends, Mansplaining, And When Being An Ally Goes Wrong". Stereogum.
  12. ↑ "Default Genders' James Brooks: 'I Totally Failed'". Spin.
  13. ↑ "Dead Girlfriends' 'On Fraternity': A Roundtable". Spin.
  14. ↑ "Listen & view Elite Gymnastics - Real Love, The Hedgehogs Dilemma (Demo) lyrics & tabs". TabLyricFm.
  15. ↑ "In-Studio Performance: Apr 15, 2011 Elite Gymnastics". Radio K.
  16. ↑ ""Come Back To Mine" (Elite Gymnastics Remix)". Pitchfork.
  17. ↑ "How to Dress Well "Suicide Dream 2 (Elite Gymnastics Baptism)"". Pitchfork.
  18. ↑ "How to Dress Well, "Suicide Dream 2" (Elite Gymnastics Baptism Remix) MP3". Fader.
  19. ↑ "mp3: How To Dress Well – "Suicide Dream 2 (elite gymnastics baptism)"". Gorilla vs. Bear.
  20. ↑ "How To Dress Well – "Suicide Dream 2 (elite gymnastics Baptism)"". Stereogum.
  21. ↑ "Suicide Dream 2 – How To Dress Well (Elite Gymnastics baptism)". Dummy.
  22. ↑ "Track Of The Day: How To Dress Well - 'Suicide Dream 2' (Elite Gymnastics Baptism)". The 405.
  23. ↑ "How to Dress Well "& It Was U (Elite Gymnastics Remix)"". Pitchfork.
  24. ↑ "How to Dress Well, "& It Was U (Elite Gymnastics Remix)" MP3". Fader.
  25. ↑ "How To Dress Well – "& It Was U (Elite Gymnastics Remix)"". Stereogum.
  26. ↑ "LISTEN: HOW TO DRESS WELL '& IT WAS U' (ELITE GYMNASTICS REMIX)". Purple Sneakers.
  27. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics – Elite Gymnastics For Vnfold". Discogs.
  28. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics' Opening Ceremony Mix MP3". Fader.
  29. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics Made a Mix and it is Hard to Figure Out". Fader.
  30. ↑ "ALL WE FUCKING CARE ABOUT IS KPOP WHITEHOUSE AND OUR CATS Mix". Pitchfork.
  31. ↑ "elite gymnastics – ALL WE FUCKING CARE ABOUT IS KPOP WHITEHOUSE AND OUR CATS Mixtape". Stereogum.
  32. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics - K Pop mix". Dummy.
  33. ↑ "Elite Gymnastics' I Want a 38-Minute Truce During Which There Is No Rape Mix MP3". Fader.
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