Skrillex: What's The Deal?

Having formerly fronted the post-hardcore band From First To Last, Sonny John Moore, better

known as Skrillex, took the plunge into a solo career back in 2007. Since then he has dedicated his music to an electronic vein similar to that of Chase and Status, Nero or even Daft Punk through some aspects.

However, it’s not until the past twelve months that the floppy fringed, screamo kid’s career exploded into the stratosphere of success that he now encompasses. Playing electric live shows to his ever growing fan base, as well as using his keyboard nous to cyber-woo that royal favourite Ellie Goulding, has seen Skillrex become one of the most polarising artists around, a sonic marmite, if you will. We can't help but ask : what’s all the fuss about?

His latest single, Bangarang, featured guest vocals from Sirah. Taking her choppy rap vocals and fusing them with an element of dubstep with leanings towards a 90’s house style, the track gained a fair deal of commercial success by charting in eight different countries. Yet, Skrillex still receives a wide range of negative criticism, with many ' purists' going as far to say that he is

killing dubstep. Indeed, Skrillex’s style of music is very different to that of, say, Magnetic Man.

Skillrex supporters are quick to point out that their man is not treading the same boards of those

who came before him, that he is leading the sub-genre leading to a 'new- wave.'

We are not massive fans of dubstep, and you probably won't find us covered in fluorescent paint at a Skillrex gig. However, with five EP’s, four music videos and 14 credited singles at the age of just 24, He must be doing something right?

Jonathan Hatchman