How a chance encounter at a Brooklyn bistro birthed a noise pop phenomenon
In short: In 2008, Derek Miller moved to New York City with a singular mission: find a female vocalist for his demos. While working at a Brazilian restaurant in Williamsburg, he met Alexis Krauss, a former teen pop singer and elementary school teacher. Their unlikely partnership redefined the boundaries of modern pop music.
The formation of Sleigh Bells was defined by serendipity and distinct creative backgrounds. Derek Miller, formerly a guitarist for the post-hardcore band Poison the Well, arrived in Brooklyn in March 2008 with a clear vision for a new musical project. By July, his path crossed with Alexis Krauss, who was dining at his workplace with her mother. Krauss, who had previously performed in the teen pop group RubyBlue and was then pursuing a Rhodes Scholarship, was initially skeptical of Miller's demos. However, she eventually chose to collaborate, setting aside her academic pursuits to help shape a sound that would soon gain international attention.
Their debut album, Treats, released in 2010, established the duo as masters of noise pop. The record was characterized by a jarring, innovative juxtaposition: overblown electro beats and crunchy, distorted guitar riffs paired with dreamy, melodic vocals. Critics noted that this approach pushed pop music to its threshold, blending elements of hip hop, punk, and metal. This sonic experimentation was not merely a stylistic choice but a deliberate effort to unite extremes, a precursor to the later hyperpop movement. Subsequent albums, such as 2012's Reign of Terror and 2013's Bitter Rivals, continued to evolve this aesthetic, incorporating R&B influences and more personal songwriting.
Beyond their musical output, the duo maintained a rigorous creative pace. Miller, who handled production and songwriting, often maintained specific ideas about vocal delivery, while Krauss brought her experience in theater and television to the stage. The band's influence has been significant, with critics observing that their work foreshadowed the genre-blurring tactics of artists like Grimes and Poppy. Today, the band continues to release music, including their 2025 album Bunky Becky Birthday Boy, while Krauss balances her artistic career with activism, having co-founded the consumer education platform Beauty Lies Truth in 2014.
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