Jaime Brooks


Jaime Brooks is a Canadian-American songwriter and musician.
𝕏 elite_gz

Career

2009–2013: Elite Gymnastics

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 by Brooks in Minneapolis around 2009, original lineups consisted of various local musicians in the Minneapolis metro area and eventually settled as a duo of Jaime Brooks and Josh Clancy. They self-released several EPs and mixtapes before Clancy's departure in 2012.
As a duo they released seven EPs, which credited Brooks with most of the songwriting and musical production, and Clancy with most of the album artwork: Real Friends, Neu! '92, Gizzard Greens V.1, Gizzard Greens V.2, Ruin, Ruin 3, and Ruin 4. Gizzard Greens is a digital double EP in the style of remix albums, featuring a cover of Cheryl Cole's "Parachute" and a mashup combining Sub Focus' remix of Rusko's "Hold On" with Blame's "Piano Takes You" on the first volume, and bootleg remixes of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" and Waka Flocka Flame's "Fuck the Club Up" on the second.
The Ruin EP was reviewed favorably by Pitchfork magazine, earning a 7.8 album review rating and critical acclaim among a number of smaller publications, and quickly attracted an online cult following. Ruin saw a physical release in vinyl format under the electronic label Acéphale, with the B-side being five remixed versions of its A-side tracks. Previous albums were self-released online in digital format for free through their Tumblr-based imprint Psychedelic Surf Club. Ruin and Ruin 2 were later self-released for free download as a digital double EP. Ruin 4 includes "Life/Trap" and "We Got Lost", two previously unreleased tracks which didn't make it onto the Ruin EP, and a rerecorded version of Ruin's "Little Things" as a hidden track.
The name Elite Gymnastics was taken from the lyrics of "Ruthless Babysitting" by power electronics group Whitehouse.

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 a reportedly 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 for continuing the project solo. 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.
The solo form of Elite Gymnastics only saw the release of single "Andreja 4-Ever" and a couple of remixes before Brooks decided to rename the project; first to Dead Girlfriends, then to Default Genders.

2013–2014: Default Genders

Dead Girlfriends and "On Fraternity" controversy

The release of single "On Fraternity" from the debut EP Stop Pretending, in association with the name change to 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. Though the name was inspired by a quote from feminist writer Andrea Dworkin, they admitted it was a "terrible name" that gave the wrong impression: "The idea of a white indie guy using feminism as a way to get over in the industry I think horrified a lot of people. And that idea horrifies me." Brooks rechristened the project Default Genders shortly thereafter.

2015–2018: Eponymity

During a four-year period following relocation to Los Angeles, California, Brooks released a series of demos and bootleg remixes on SoundCloud eponymously, though they were not made available for purchase or download.

2019-2020: Default Genders

''Main Pop Girl 2019''

On February 4, 2019, Brooks released a second full-length Default Genders album titled Main Pop Girl 2019, which includes a track featuring pop artist No Rome, updated versions of demos previously released eponymously, and an updated version of "Sophie" from Magical Pessimism 2014 featuring artist Beth Sawlts. The album was reviewed favorably by Pitchfork magazine, receiving an 8.0 rating.

''Pain Mop Girl 2020''

On April 20, 2020, Brooks released a new full-length Default Genders album titled Pain Mop Girl 2020, which consists mostly of guest-remixed and reworked versions of Main Pop Girl 2019 songs, and features two original songs as the opening tracks.

''Main Pop Girls 2015–2018''

On December 4, 2020, Brooks released a collection of demos as an album titled Main Pop Girls 2015–2018 which consists of an unreleased song as the opening track and songs previously showcased eponymously as SoundCloud demos during 2015–2018, many of which laid the groundwork for material on subsequent Default Genders albums.

2022: Elite Gymnastics revival

In 2021, Brooks announced a reconciliation with Clancy and revealed intentions to revive the Elite Gymnastics name with his blessing, though ultimately not his involvement. A debut album, snow flakes 2022, was released on October 18, 2022. The album consists of reworks of previously recorded songs as well as new material, with the new lineup of Jaime Brooks and Viri Char.

Private life

Brooks is transgender and uses she and they personal pronouns. They were in a relationship with Canadian musician Grimes from 2013 to 2018.

Discography

Elite Gymnastics

Extended plays

Real Friends Gizzard Greens V.1 Gizzard Greens V.2 Neu! '92 Ruin Ruin 2 Ruin 3
  • ''Ruin 4''

Singles

  • "We Fly High "
  • "Life/Trap"
  • "Andreja 4-Ever"

Unreleased songs

  • "Real Love "
  • "I Just Wasn't Paying Attention"
  • "Walls"
Note: "I Just Wasn't Paying Attention" is an early version of "We Got Lost" from Ruin 4.

Remixes

  • Florrie – "Come Back to Mine "
  • How to Dress Well – "Suicide Dream 2 "
  • Mozart Parties – "Where Has Everybody Gone? "
  • Korallreven feat. Julianna Barwick – "Sa Sa Samoa "
  • Sky Ferreira – "Red Lips "
  • How to Dress Well – "& It Was U "

Mixtapes

Mix for VnFold Magazine Mix for Opening Ceremony All We Fucking Care About is Kpop Whitehouse and Our Cats
  • ''I Want a 38-Minute Truce in Which There is No Rape''

Default Genders

Studio albums

Magical Pessimism 2014 Main Pop Girl 2019
  • ''Pain Mop Girl 2020''

Extended plays

  • ''Stop Pretending''

Singles

  • "On Fraternity"

Mixtapes

  • ''Magical Pessimix #1''

Jaime Brooks

Studio albums

  • ''Main Pop Girls 2015–2018 ''