Sleigh Bells are an American musical duo based in Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2008 and consisting of vocalist Alexis Krauss and guitarist/producer Derek E. Miller. They became known for their overdriven style of noise pop, which incorporates elements from various genres including pop, hip hop, metal, and punk.[1]
The two members of Sleigh Bells—Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss—had previous experience performing and touring in a musical ensemble.[3] From age 17 to 22, Miller was a guitarist in the post-hardcore band Poison the Well. He played on the band's first three albums, but left in 2004, citing creative differences with the other band members as a key factor for his departure.[4] Krauss meanwhile has a background in theater and television. As a child she appeared in a Nickelodeon Magazine commercial, and starred in a community production of the musical Annie.[5] From age 12 to 16, Krauss performed in the teen pop group RubyBlue.[3] After RubyBlue broke up, Krauss went to college (majoring in political science), taught Spanish at an elementary school in The Bronx, and performed at weddings on the side for fun.[4]
In March 2008, Miller moved to New York City expressly to find a female vocalist for some song demos he was working on. "I'm just obsessed with female vocalists. I don't want to say I was really determined, but I was really determined," said Miller.[3] He began working at a Brazilian bistro in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and in July, Krauss and her mother dined at the restaurant. Miller expressed his interest in finding a female vocalist for his new project and Krauss was volunteered by her mother. The two met in a park, where she listened to Miller's demos.[4] In a 2012 interview, Krauss recalled her first impressions, saying: "Derek's music sounded like a really interesting challenge, but I wasn't thinking he was somebody I wanted to develop a creative relationship with."[4] Krauss was pursuing a Rhodes Scholarship at the time, but decided to pair up with Miller instead.[3] The band name Sleigh Bells comes from the phrase Miller used to delineate CD-Rs with demos he had worked on.[6]
2009–2011: Sleigh Bells EP and Treats
From the beginning, Miller and Krauss set high expectations for themselves, with the goal to make a living off of their music.[7] Krauss noted that when the two began recording together for the first time, Miller wanted to be in control. "It was like a really interesting session gig for me...I always knew it was Derek's thing — he was producing and writing the songs. He had very specific ideas about what the vocals should be like."[4]
The duo performed at the CMJ Music Marathon in October 2009.[8] They signed to M.I.A.'s N.E.E.T. Recordings and Mom + Pop Music in March 2010.[9] The two quickly got in the studio and recorded a seven-track self-titled EP. Their EP soon gained attention from The Guardian, The New York Times, Pitchfork, ABC News's Amplified, and other sources. Stereogum named them a Band to Watch on October 22, 2009.[10]The Guardian named them Band of the Day in December 2009.[11] Their song "Crown on the Ground" was named the 57th best track of 2009 by Pitchfork.[12] Miller produced the track "Meds and Feds" with M.I.A. from the album Maya towards the end of 2009, and began recording Treats with Krauss in 2010. All but one of the tracks from Sleigh Bells EP have been subsequently included on studio albums. Songs "Rill Rill", "Crown on the Ground", "Beach Girls" (later renamed "Kids"), "Infinity Guitars", and "A/B Machines" were released on 2010s Treats. The final track on the extended play, "2HELLWU", was eventually reworked into the Bitter Rivals track "To Hell with You", released in October 2013.
The group released "Tell 'Em", the first single from their debut album, Treats, as a free download in April 2010.[13]Treats was released in May 2010 by Mom + Pop Music.[14]Alarm Magazine later stated that the album established the band as "the new master of noise pop, infusing overblown electro beats and crunchy, gritty guitars into raucous compositions," concluding that "it was an unapologetic exploration of pushing 'pop' music to its threshold and crossing it."[15]
Sleigh Bells began tracking songs for their second studio album in June 2011. Describing the sound of the new album, Krauss said, "It sounds really huge, so there's going to still be tons of volume."[18]
On December 2, 2011, the band's website began to link to a Vimeo video.[19] It served as a teaser trailer for the upcoming album, revealing the title to be Reign of Terror. There was no release date or any other information attached to the trailer. The trailer features scenes of Krauss sitting at a vanity mirror, grooming herself, interspersed with various backstage and live concert footage, as well as footage depicting the band's touring. For the duration of the video, a riff plays in the background and serves as the only sound. This was later featured in "Rainmaker" on Kid Krushchev.
On December 7, 2011, the band announced via press release both the date of the album's release and the track listing. The band's publicist said of the upcoming release, "[The album features] songs that are as crushing and authoritative as their title suggests; they're effortlessly robust and heavier than any of the band's previous output ... the sonic equivalent of a beautiful shotgun to the head."[20] The album's promotional single, "Born to Lose", was released on December 15, 2011. In an interview with webzine Coup de Main, Krauss was quoted as saying that Reign of Terror is "a much more personal record".[21]
The album was originally set to be released on February 14, 2012, but was pushed back to February 21.[22] Along with the announcement of the release date and track listing, Sleigh Bells also announced a tour of strictly Floridian venues.[23] This tour preceded the release of the album.
Only a few months after the release of Reign of Terror, Sleigh Bells began writing a third studio album for a possible 2013 release.[26][27] Before the end of 2012, the album was said to feature more writing from Krauss and with a cleaner sound.[28] The album, titled Bitter Rivals, was released on October 8, 2013, through Mom + Pop Music. The album was partially inspired by the music of Janet Jackson.[29][30] According to Krauss, several tracks would feature dynamic acoustic riffs and R&B-ish vocals. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Krauss clarified the new style of the album, saying, "I was interested in doing something Beyoncé or Janet Jackson would do, these slow-winding, sparkling melodies."[31] A music video directed by Sleigh Bells for the album's title track, "Bitter Rivals", was released in September 2013. The band toured North America in October and November 2013 in support of Bitter Rivals with Doldrums and Danny Brown as support.[32]
2015–present: Jessica Rabbit and Texis
On December 7, 2015, Sleigh Bells premiered a new song titled "Champions of Unrestricted Beauty", while announcing they were finishing up their fourth studio album.[33] The duo released the single "Rule Number One" on June 7, 2016,[34] followed by "Hyper Dark" on July 19.[35] On August 24, Sleigh Bells announced both the release date and track listing of their upcoming fourth studio album, Jessica Rabbit.[36] The album was released on November 11, 2016, marking the first release on the duo's own label, Torn Clean, in partnership with Sinderlyn.[37]
It was announced on October 10, 2017, that the duo would release a mini-album titled Kid Kruschev on November 10, 2017. On the same day, the lead single "And Saints" was released.[38] "Rainmaker" was released as the second single on October 24.[39]
On September 10, 2021, Texis was released, led by a single and music video for "Locust Laced".[40]
Heather Phares of AllMusic stated that the work of Sleigh Bells foreshadowed the hyperpop genre and artists such as Grimes, Poppy, and others who "brazenly ignored genre boundaries and united the extremes of sweet and heavy;"[1] Ian Cohen of Pitchfork similarly stated that their sound preempted the hyperpop genre and influenced a number of "ascendant acts blowing bubblegum melodies over razored guitars, while squabbles over cheerleading outfits, prom dresses, and pilfered pop-punk hooks span generations."[56]
Members
Alexis Krauss – vocals (2008–present)
Derek E. Miller – guitar, production, lyrics[57](2008–present)
Sydney Alexis Krauss (born September 27, 1985)[58] is an American singer, songwriter, former schoolteacher, activist and frontwoman of Sleigh Bells. She is also co-founder of Beauty Lies Truth, a website dedicated to educating consumers about the ingredients in personal care products.[59]
Krauss performed in music and musical theatre from the age of nine until the age of 16.[64] As a teenager, she sang lead vocals and played bass in an all-girl pop group called RubyBlue, which recorded two singles and an unreleased album before breaking up.[65]
After breaking from music, Krauss returned to school and majored in international studies at Marymount Manhattan College,[64] and then received New York State certificates for elementary and bilingual education at Pace University.[66] Krauss had been teaching elementary school with Teach For America for two years before she met soon-to-be Sleigh Bells bandmate Derek E. Miller,[67] who was the server at the restaurant she and her mother were dining in. Miller mentioned that he was looking for a vocalist for his music project and Krauss' mother suggested Krauss.[64][68][69]
Other ventures
In February 2014, Krauss and her friend Jessica Assaf founded the blog Beauty Lies Truth, which educates consumers on the toxic ingredients in cosmetics and skincare products.[70][59][71][72][73] The blog was officially launched in August 2014.[59][71]
^Bachor, Ken. "Sleigh Bells: The SPIN Cover Photo Shoot", Spin (magazine), February 20, 2012. Accessed January 22, 2019. "Sleigh Bells were photographed in Alexis Krauss' hometown of Manasquan, New Jersey, at locations including her alma mater (Manasquan High School), her favorite pizza place on Main Street, and the train tracks where she used to hang out after school."
Reign of Terror: "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. February 29, 2012. Archived from the original on December 26, 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2013.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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