Skrillex

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Lore & Background

Moore has won eight Grammy Awards, tying him with The Chemical Brothers and Aphex Twin for the most wins by an electronic dance music act. He has collaborated with Diplo and Boys Noize to form the groups Jack Ü and Dog Blood, respectively. On his 29th birthday, it was announced that he reunited with From First to Last to release a single named 'Make War'. In 2017, Skrillex co-produced the track 'No Fun' on Incubus's eighth studio album, 8. In late 2011, he was nominated on the BBC's Sound of 2012 and was named MTV's Electronic Dance Music Artist of the Year. He announced his label, OWSLA, on August 17, 2011, with its first releases coming from KOAN Sound, Porter Robinson, and Alvin Risk; M Machine joined the label later.

In Their Own Story

In 2004, Moore contacted Matt Good of From First to Last about playing guitar for the band on their debut album. After flying out to Georgia, Moore was heard singing by three studio producers and was then made lead singer. In June 2004, Epitaph Records released the band's first full-length record with their new bandmate, Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count. After performing on several successful tours, including the Vans Warped Tour and Dead by Dawn tour, they recorded their second album, Heroine, with producer Ross Robinson, released in March 2006. Moore started suffering vocal problems, causing the band to resign from several tours. After a successful vocal surgical procedure, Moore informed the band he would be permanently resigning to work on a solo career. FFTL's last show performed with Moore was in their hometown of Orlando at The House of Blues while touring with Atreyu. Moore launched a Myspace page displaying three demos ('Signal', 'Equinox', and 'Glow Worm'), leading to his first solo performance on April 7, 2007, alongside harpist Carol Robbins. After months of releasing demos via Myspace, Moore played on the Team Sleep Tour with a full band, making demo CDs available limited to about 30 per show, packaged in 'baby blue envelopes' with unique drawings by Moore or bandmate.

Reader's Guide

In February 2008, Moore joined the second annual AP Tour with All Time Low, The Rocket Summer, The Matches, and Forever the Sickest Kids, starting in Houston, Texas on March 14 and ending in Cleveland, Ohio on May 2, with the majority of shows sold out. All bands on the tour appeared on the cover of Alternative Press Magazine's annual '100 Bands You Need to Know' special. During this tour, Moore's line-up consisted of Sean Friday on drums, Christopher Null on guitar, and Aaron Rothe on keyboards. On April 7, 2009, he released Gypsyhook, a digital EP featuring three songs and four remixes, with physical copies available at his shows. He performed at Bamboozle on May 2 and Bamboozle Left on April 4. He toured with Hollywood Undead in April 2009 under the band name 'Sonny and the Blood Monkeys'. In 2008, Moore began producing and performing under the alias 'Skrillex' at clubs in the Los Angeles area. On June 7, 2010, he released his official Skrillex debut EP, My Name Is Skrillex, as a free download. Later in the year, he 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, unveiling new songs including 'First of the Year (Equinox)', 'Reptile', and a remix of Benny Benassi's 'Cinema'. 'Reptile' was featured in the TV commercial for Mortal Kombat 9. 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. On December 21, 2011, Skrillex unveiled the Bangarang EP for a Beatport release on December 23.

Did You Know?

• Moore was adopted at birth by family friends of his biological parents and learned he was adopted in 2004.
• He was home schooled at age 14 due to bullying and dropped out of the program when he was 16.
• The name 'Skrillex' has no meaning and was described by Moore as 'a stupid old online AOL screen name'.
• Moore provided additional programming and vocals on the track 'Fuck' from UK metalcore band Bring Me the Horizon's album There Is a Hell Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven Let's Keep It a Secret.
• Skrillex created the track 'Syndicate' in late September 2011 as promotion for the video game of the same name.

From Post-Hardcore Roots to Electronic Reinvention

Sonny John Moore's musical journey began not in the electronic sphere, but within the post-hardcore scene. Born in Los Angeles and raised across California neighborhoods including Highland Park and San Francisco, Moore discovered his voice early by attending punk gigs in East LA before transitioning to electro club raves. In 2004, he joined From First to Last as their lead vocalist after being heard singing during a studio session, replacing the original singer. The band achieved significant success with albums like Dear Diary and Heroine, touring extensively on major circuits such as Vans Warped Tour. However, vocal strain forced Moore to undergo surgery, leading him to leave the group in 2007 to pursue solo endeavors. His initial foray into a solo career involved releasing demos under his own name and performing with a new lineup on tours like the Alternative Press Tour. This period marked a pivotal shift where he moved away from rock structures, eventually experimenting with dubstep. By 2010, he had fully reinvented himself as Skrillex, releasing free downloads that would soon redefine electronic music landscapes.

The Rise of Dubstep and Grammy Dominance

Moore's pivot into the global sensation Skrillex sparked through a string of game-changing extended plays. After scrubbing plans for a rock album called Bells, he dove into dubstep, launching My Name Is Skrillex on MySpace in 2010 as a free download. This move caught fire fast, leading to the hits Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites and More Monsters and Sprites. These drops brought aggressive, bass-heavy vibes to mainstream ears, landing him nominations for Best New Artist at the 54th Grammy Awards. He clinched control that year by sweeping multiple categories, including Best Dance/Electronic Album and Best Dance Recording. By late 2011, his reach was worldwide with a nod on the BBC's Sound of 2012 and an MTV award for Electronic Dance Music Artist of the Year. His debut studio album, Recess, dropped in 2014 and hit number four on the Billboard 200, proving his status as a record-breaking act who connected underground electronic scenes with pop culture.

Collaborative Ventures and Musical Versatility

Beyond his solo work, Moore has demonstrated remarkable versatility through high-profile collaborations and side projects. He formed the duo Jack Ü with producer Diplo, creating a distinct sound that blends electronic dance music with other genres. Additionally, he partnered with Boys Noize to create Dog Blood, further exploring different sonic territories. His influence extends beyond dance floors into rock production; notably, in 2017, he produced and mixed Incubus's eighth studio album, 8, showcasing his ability to navigate traditional rock instrumentation. Moore also maintained ties to his musical origins by reuniting with From First to Last on his 29th birthday to release the single Make War. His discography continued to evolve with the simultaneous release of two albums in 2023, Quest for Fire and Don't Get Too Close, followed by a surprise fourth album in 2025 titled Fuck U Skrillex You Think Ur Andy Warhol but Ur Not!! <3. These projects highlight his refusal to be pigeonholed, constantly pushing boundaries across multiple genres while maintaining a prolific output.

A Record-Breaking Legacy and Cultural Impact

Sonny Moore's footprint on the music industry is backed by an unmatched list of awards, holding the record for the most Grammy Awards won by any electronic dance music act with nine total wins. His journey from a bullied teen in Los Angeles to a global star shows a unique road built on personal grit and artistic growth. Raised by adoptive parents who were Scientologists, his early years spanned boarding schools and private academies until he dropped out at 16 after finding out about his adoption. Those formative times shaped his wide musical tastes, from punk rock to electronic rave culture. His smooth switch between leading a post-hardcore band and pioneering electronic music made waves in the genre. By constantly innovating and teaming up with top-tier artists, he showed what a modern producer and DJ can be, keeping him firmly among the most influential names in today's music history.

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