Sleigh Bells is the Brooklyn noise pop duo of Alexis Krauss and ex-Poison the Well guitarist Derek Miller, formed in 2008. Treats (2010) — released through M.I.A.'s N.E.E.T. imprint — set the template: blown-out guitars, marching-band drum samples, sugar-sweet vocals. Explore Sleigh Bells vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Sleigh Bells formed in Brooklyn, New York in 2008 around Alexis Krauss (born September 16, 1985, Manasquan, New Jersey) and Derek Miller (formerly of the post-hardcore band Poison the Well). They are widely cited as a foundational act of the contemporary noise pop scene. Their 2010 debut Treats - released through M.I.A.'s N.E.E.T. Recordings imprint and Mom + Pop Music - established their distinctive blend of distorted guitar production, marching-band-style drum samples, and pop vocal delivery into a foundational noise pop template. They have continued releasing material across multiple decades.
Sleigh Bells's sound is foundational to contemporary noise pop - combining noise pop, indie pop, electronic, dance-rock, electropop, alternative rock, and shoegaze with Krauss's distinctive pop vocal delivery, Miller's signature production approach (use of extreme distortion, marching-band-style drum samples, and atmospheric noise textures), and lyrical content addressing relationships, sexuality, and contemporary indie pop themes.
N.E.E.T. Recordings, Mom + Pop Music, and Lucky Number pressings of the Sleigh Bells catalog have been issued in multiple color variant editions and limited deluxe pressings.
Listeners new to Sleigh Bells typically start with Treats (2010) or Reign of Terror (2012).
