Sleigh Bells

Massively popular indie rock band Sleigh Bells seemed to come out of nowhere with their breakthrough 2009 EP, but in reality, members Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller had both been working tirelessly in the music industry for years. Miller had been playing guitar in the hardcore band Poison the Well since the age of 17, while Krauss had been performing since her youth, appearing in a commercial for Nickelodeon Magazine as a child and later singing in the teen pop group RubyBlue. After a chance meeting at a Brooklyn bistro, Miller and Krauss began collaborating, performing their music for local crowds. By 2009, they were performing at the CMJ Music Marathon and self-releasing a seven song, self-titled EP. That recording would prove instrumental in Sleigh Bells' success after it was noticed by several media outlets including The New York Times and Pitchfork Media. The band were signed to N.E.E.T. Recordings and Mom + Pop Music in 2010, releasing their debut album Treats later that year. Their sophomore album Reign of Terror came two years later, along with a major tour and a slew of festival performances at Coachella and the Pitchfork Music Festival. By 2013, Sleigh Bells was ready to release their third album, the R&B influenced Bitter Rivals.