Everyone has heard the name by now but who really is;
Skrillex
“I’ve been deep into electronic music my entire life. The first records I ever owned were ‘Fat of Land’ by the Prodigy and ‘Come To Daddy’ by Aphex Twin,” raves Sonny Moore, better known as emerging electronic visionary SKRILLEX. “Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails were also early influences. I’ve been dabbling in making electronic tracks on programs like Fruity Loops since I was 14 years old.”
Sonny John Moore (born January 15, 1988), better known by his stage name Skrillex, is a Grammy Award winning American electronic music producer and former singer–songwriter.
Raised in Northeast Los Angeles and in Northern California, Moore joined the American post-hardcore band From First to Last as the lead singer in 2004, and recorded two studio albums with the band (Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count, 2004, and Heroine, 2006) before leaving to pursue a solo career in 2007.
He began his first tour as a solo artist in late–2007 after recruiting a new band lineup. After releasing the Gypsyhook EP in 2009, Moore was scheduled to record his debut studio album, Bells, with producer Noah Shain. However, he ceased production of the album and began performing under the name Skrillex.
In 2008, Moore began producing and performing under the alias Skrillex (but before that, he was known on the internet as Twipz) at clubs in the Los Angeles area. On June 7, 2010, Moore released his official Skrillex debut EP, My Name is Skrillex as a free download.
Moore provided programming and vocals for UK metalcore band Bring Me the Horizon on their third studio album “There Is a Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There Is a Heaven, Let’s Keep It a Secret“. Later in the year, Sonny began a nationwide tour with Deadmau5 after being signed to mau5trap recordings and released his second EP, Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.
Moore kicked off the “Project Blue Book Tour” in 2011 with support from Porter Robinson, Tommy Lee and DJ Aero as well as appearances from Sofia Toufa for a new song titled “Bring out the Devil.” Skrillex unveiled several new songs on this tour including “First Of The Year” (formerly known as “Equinox”), “Reptile”, and “Cinema” (remix of a Benny Benassi track). “Reptile” was featured in the TV commercial for Mortal Kombat 9, and “First of the Year (Equinox)” is featured on his follow up EP and remix companion to Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, titled More Monsters and Sprites.
Skrillex released a music video for “First of the Year (Equinox)” via Spin.com on August 19, 2011.
In April 2011, Spin Magazine premiered an exclusive new track from Korn that Skrillex produced. Korn made this track, titled “Get Up,” available for free download via their Facebook page.On April 15, 2011 KoRn joined Skrillex on stage for his set at Coachella 2011.
In June 2011, “More Monsters and Sprites” was released on Beatport, an EP consisting of three original tracks, including “First of the Year (Equinox)” and two versions of his original track “Ruffneck”. A leaked track entitled “Ruffneck Bass” had been leaked on the internet months prior which used the same sample as in the new “Ruffneck” tracks on the EP. Skrillex released a music video for “Rock n’ Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain)” on his official YouTube page on June 20, 2011.
On August 17, 2011 Skrillex announced his label OWSLA. “The label’s first releases will come from Bristol-based dubstep producer Koan Sound, electro-house newcomer Porter Robinson from North Carolina, singer/songwriter Alvin Risk, and San Francisco based M Machine (formally Metropolis).”
In late August 2011 it was released that he would be appearing Knife Party‘s first release, collaborating on a Moombahton style track entitled “Zoology”. A preview was released on Youtube. In late September 2011 he created the track “Syndicate” as promotion for the video game of the same name.
Kaskade‘s 2011 album “Fire & Ice” features a collaboration between Kaskade and Skrillex entitled “Lick It”
The video for Skrillex’s song “First of the Year (Equinox)” appeared on the first episode of the Beavis and Butt-head revival.
On November 8, Skrillex confirmed the EP entitled ‘Voltage’. Skrillex gave fans more info about Voltage in RockSound Magazine after a photoshoot for the cover and doing an extensive interview on his tour.
On November 30, 2011, he was nominated for a total of five Grammy Awards at the 54th Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist. On December 5, 2011, the BBC announced that he had been nominated for their Sound of 2012 poll. On December 12, 2011, he was also named MTV‘s EDM Artist of the Year, ranking in front of successful acts such as David Guetta and deadmau5.
Skrillex will play nine dates in the UK from the 14th – 22 February.
On December 21, 2011, Skrillex unveiled the Bangarang EP for a Beatport release on December 23.
Discography
- Studio Albums
- 2012: Voltage
- Extended plays
- 2010: My Name Is Skrillex
- 2010: Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites
- 2011: More Monsters and Sprites
- 2011: Bangarang
- With From First to Last
- 2004: Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Bodycount
- 2006: Heroine
- As Sonny
- 2009: Gypsyhook EP
Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Himself | Best New Artist | Nominated |
| Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites | Best Dance Recording | Won | |
| Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites | Best Electronic/Dance Album | Won | |
| Cinema (Remix) | Best Remixed Recording | Won | |
| First of the Year (Equinox) | Best Short Form Music Video | Nominated |
