100 gecs

100 gecs is an electronic duo from St. Louis, United States, active since 2015. The group consists of Dylan Brady and Laura Les, who also performs as osno1. Their music is associated with hyperpop, deconstructed club, power pop, bubblegum bass, experimental and noise pop.

Formation and early work

Brady and Les live in Kirkwood and Webster Groves respectively. They first meet at a high school rodeo, then reconnect at a house party in 2012 and begin to think about working together. Their first joint recording sessions take place in Chicago in winter 2015. The duo self-release their debut EP, 100 gecs, in 2016.

The origin of the name “100 gecs” is not settled, with different explanations given by the two members in interviews.

Albums, singles and collaborations

After time apart, they resume exchanging Logic project files by email and return to collaboration for the Minecraft Fire Festival in 2019. Their debut single, “Money Machine,” appears in 2019, followed by the first album, 1000 gecs. The album runs for 23 minutes and combines a wide range of styles, including ringtone rap, pop punk, trance pop, abstract structures, power ballads, rap, EDM, dubstep, death metal and ska. Its lyrics focus on digital-age anxiety, and the vocals make heavy use of autotune.

Dylan Brady releases the stems for 1000 gecs in 2019, leading fans and friends to make remixes. The duo then assemble a remix album from this material. In 2020 they release the remix compilation 1000 gecs and The Tree of Clues, which includes guest appearances by Injury Reserve, A. G. Cook and Black Dresses. That year they also sign with Atlantic Records.

Other releases include the standalone single “Lonely Machines” with 3OH!3 and the Christmas song “Sympathy 4 the Grinch” in 2020. In early 2021 they release a remix of Linkin Park’s “One Step Closer” for the 20th anniversary of Hybrid Theory. They then issue “MeMeMe” and “Doritos & Fritos” as singles from 10,000 gecs, followed by “Hollywood Baby.” The album 10,000 gecs arrives in 2023. They also release the EP Snake Eyes, which includes a visualizer for “Torture Me” featuring Skrillex.

Live work and recognition

In 2019, 100 gecs support Brockhampton on the Heaven Belongs to You Tour and also headline six of the shows. They headline the Minecraft festival Square Garden in 2020, sharing the bill with Charli XCX, Kero Kero Bonito, Dorian Electra and Cashmere Cat.

The group receives wider critical attention in 2019, when Rolling Stone names them an “Artist You Need to Know.” Jon Caramanica of The New York Times names 1000 gecs the best album of 2019, and Crack Magazine, Noisey, Paper, Pitchfork and Stereogum also place it among the year’s best albums.