Sleigh Bells are an American musical duo based in Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2008 and consisting of vocalist Alexis Krauss and guitarist/producer Derek E. Miller.

Recordings and the independent label Mom + Pop Music, Sleigh Bells released their debut album Treats (2010) to critical acclaim.

[3] After RubyBlue broke up, Krauss went to college (majoring in political science), taught Spanish at an elementary school in The Bronx, and performed at weddings on the side for fun.

[4] In March 2008, Miller moved to New York City expressly to find a female vocalist for some song demos he was working on.

[3] He began working at a Brazilian bistro in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and in July, Krauss and her mother dined at the restaurant.

[4] In a 2012 interview, Krauss recalled her first impressions, saying: "Derek's music sounded like a really interesting challenge, but I wasn't thinking he was somebody I wanted to develop a creative relationship with.

Their EP soon gained attention from The Guardian, The New York Times, Pitchfork, ABC News's Amplified, and other sources.

[14] Alarm Magazine later stated that the album established the band as "the new master of noise pop, infusing overblown electro beats and crunchy, gritty guitars into raucous compositions," concluding that "it was an unapologetic exploration of pushing 'pop' music to its threshold and crossing it.

Sleigh Bells made their network television debut on the February 18, 2012 episode of Saturday Night Live, performing the songs "Comeback Kid" and "End of the Line".

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Krauss clarified the new style of the album, saying, "I was interested in doing something Beyoncé or Janet Jackson would do, these slow-winding, sparkling melodies.

"[31] A music video directed by Sleigh Bells for the album's title track, "Bitter Rivals", was released in September 2013.

[32] On December 7, 2015, Sleigh Bells premiered a new song titled "Champions of Unrestricted Beauty", while announcing they were finishing up their fourth studio album.

[35] On August 24, Sleigh Bells announced both the release date and track listing of their upcoming fourth studio album, Jessica Rabbit.

[54][55][56] Heather Phares of AllMusic stated that the work of Sleigh Bells foreshadowed the hyperpop genre and artists such as Grimes, Poppy, and others who "brazenly ignored genre boundaries and united the extremes of sweet and heavy;"[1] Ian Cohen of Pitchfork similarly stated that their sound preempted the hyperpop genre and influenced a number of "ascendant acts blowing bubblegum melodies over razored guitars, while squabbles over cheerleading outfits, prom dresses, and pilfered pop-punk hooks span generations.

"[57] Sydney Alexis Krauss (born September 27, 1985)[59] is an American singer, songwriter, former schoolteacher, activist and frontwoman of Sleigh Bells.

She is also co-founder of Beauty Lies Truth, a website dedicated to educating consumers about the ingredients in personal care products.

[65] As a teenager, she sang lead vocals and played bass in an all-girl pop group called RubyBlue, which recorded two singles and an unreleased album before breaking up.

[66] After breaking from music, Krauss returned to school and majored in international studies at Marymount Manhattan College,[65] and then received New York State certificates for elementary and bilingual education at Pace University.

[65][69][70] In February 2014, Krauss and her friend Jessica Assaf founded the blog Beauty Lies Truth, which educates consumers on the toxic ingredients in cosmetics and skincare products.