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Skrillex, born Sonny John Moore, is an American DJ and producer who holds nine Grammy Awards—the most for any electronic artist. He transformed dubstep into a mainstream phenomenon, founded OWSLA records, and helped define modern electronic dance music through innovative production and boundary-pushing collaborations.
Sonny John Moore’s path to becoming Skrillex began in the unlikely world of post-hardcore music. Born January 15, 1988, in Northeast Los Angeles, Moore was raised by adoptive parents who were Scientologists—a detail he only learned about at age 16. His teenage years were spent immersed in the Southern California punk scene, attending shows in East and South LA before eventually joining the post-hardcore band From First to Last as lead vocalist in 2004, at just 16 years old.
With From First to Last, Moore recorded two successful albums: Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count (2004) and Heroine (2006). The band toured extensively on the Vans Warped Tour and built a devoted following. However, Moore’s aggressive vocal style took its toll. After developing serious vocal problems and undergoing surgery in 2007, he made the difficult decision to leave the band and pursue a solo career.
The turning point came unexpectedly. Moore attended a 2007 Daft Punk concert at Coachella that completely changed his musical trajectory. The experience opened his eyes to electronic music’s potential for creating euphoric, crowd-moving moments without traditional instruments or vocals. He began experimenting with production software in his bedroom, teaching himself electronic music production from scratch.
In 2008, Moore started performing under a new alias: Skrillex. The name came from an old AOL Instant Messenger screen name he’d used—it had no deeper meaning, but it stuck. Working from an illegally occupied warehouse in downtown Los Angeles, Moore spent countless hours crafting a sound that blended dubstep’s bass-heavy foundation with aggressive, distorted drops that mirrored his post-hardcore roots.
On June 7, 2010, Skrillex released My Name Is Skrillex as a free download on MySpace. The EP showcased a raw, intense approach to dubstep that was different from the genre’s UK origins. This sound—later dubbed “brostep” by critics—featured harsher tones, metallic textures, and earth-shaking bass drops that resonated with American audiences hungry for something aggressive and energetic.
The real breakthrough came with Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, released in October 2010 through Deadmau5’s mau5trap label and Big Beat Records. The title track became an instant phenomenon, dominating Beatport charts for weeks. Its distinctive wobbles, bass, and dramatic build-ups created a template that countless producers would emulate. The song’s success was followed by More Monsters and Sprites (2011) featuring “First of the Year (Equinox)” and the Bangarang EP (2011), which peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200.
Skrillex’s impact on music was validated at the 54th Grammy Awards in February 2012. He won three awards: Best Dance Recording for “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites,” Best Dance/Electronic Album for the EP of the same name, and Best Remixed Recording for his remix of Benny Benassi’s “Cinema.” He was also nominated for Best New Artist, losing to Bon Iver but gaining recognition far beyond electronic music circles.
That 2012 night launched Skrillex into a historic Grammy run. Over the next decade, he would accumulate nine Grammy Awards total—more than any electronic dance music act in history, surpassing even Daft Punk’s eight wins. His victories included multiple Best Dance Recording awards, with his most recent win in 2024 for “Rumble” featuring Fred again.. and Flowdan. These achievements helped legitimize EDM in the eyes of the mainstream music industry and academy voters.
Beyond the Grammys, Skrillex received MTV’s Electronic Dance Music Artist of the Year in 2011 and was nominated for the BBC’s Sound of 2012. His success opened doors for an entire generation of electronic producers who had previously struggled to gain recognition from traditional music institutions.
In August 2011, at the height of his initial success, Skrillex announced the founding of OWSLA—a record label and creative collective named after the ruling class in Richard Adams’ novel Watership Down. Co-founded with manager Tim Smith, publicists Kathryn Frazier and Clayton Blaha, OWSLA had a mission beyond typical label operations: to support innovative electronic artists who couldn’t secure proper resources or creative freedom elsewhere.
“I make music ’cause I love music and it all starts from there,” Skrillex explained in a 2016 video. “I surround myself with good people that I believe in as well. I think it’s important to create your family.” This philosophy shaped OWSLA’s approach to artist development, emphasizing collaboration and artistic integrity over commercial pressures.
OWSLA’s roster became a who’s who of electronic music talent. Porter Robinson’s Spitfire EP served as the label’s debut release, topping Beatport charts. The label later signed and developed artists including Zedd (who would become a global superstar), Marshmello (before his mainstream explosion), Dillon Francis, What So Not, and NGHTMRE. Each artist received hands-on support and creative freedom, with OWSLA functioning more like a collective than a traditional corporate label.
The label remained active through 2020, launching the Nest HQ platform to showcase emerging talent and hosting events like the 2016 fifth-anniversary celebration in Los Angeles. Though OWSLA went dormant around 2020 and Skrillex ended his Atlantic Records partnership in 2025 to pursue independent work, the label’s influence on electronic music culture remains significant.
Skrillex’s collaborative spirit led to some of electronic music’s most successful partnerships. In 2013, he formed Jack Ü with producer Diplo. Their 2015 self-titled album reached number one on the US Dance charts, and the single “Where Are Ü Now” featuring Justin Bieber went 4x platinum while winning a Grammy. Skrillex then produced Bieber’s 8x platinum hit “Sorry,” which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100—proving electronic producers could craft mainstream pop megahits.
The Dog Blood project with German producer Boys Noize explored darker, techno-influenced territory. Their 2012 EP Next Order/Middle Finger showcased Skrillex’s range beyond dubstep, with tracks that topped Beatport’s techno charts. This willingness to experiment across genres became a Skrillex trademark, keeping his sound fresh and unpredictable.
Recent collaborations have shown continued evolution. Working with UK producer Fred again.. and grime MC Flowdan on “Rumble” (2023) created a track that felt both nostalgic and forward-thinking, earning his ninth Grammy. He’s explored global sounds with Missy Elliott (“RATATA”), South Asian influences with Priya Ragu (“TAKA”), and continued pushing boundaries with underground artists through OWSLA connections.
After his debut album Recess (2014) peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, Skrillex entered a quieter period, releasing singles and collaborations but no full albums. This changed dramatically in 2023 when he announced not one but two albums arriving within 24 hours of each other.
Quest for Fire dropped February 17, 2023, followed immediately by Don’t Get Too Close on February 18—released during a sold-out Madison Square Garden performance with Four Tet and Fred again.. The double release showcased Skrillex’s expanded musical palette, incorporating elements of bass music, UK garage, and experimental electronic sounds while maintaining his signature intensity. Critics praised the albums for “channeling nostalgia” while pushing forward, though some noted the lack of overarching themes.
On April 1, 2025, Skrillex surprise-released his fourth album, the provocatively titled Fuck U Skrillex You Think Ur Andy Warhol but Ur Not!! <3, via Dropbox to email subscribers before hitting streaming platforms. The 34-track release marked his final project for Atlantic Records and signaled his transition to independent artist status. “I’m thrilled to get this out and focus on more releases in ’25 as an ‘independent’ artist,” he wrote, noting he wants to “rethink how structures are designed” and “find ways to simplify decimating music and art.”
Skrillex’s 2023 comeback came after confronting serious personal challenges. In January 2023, he publicly shared his mental health struggles via Twitter, revealing why he’d canceled festival appearances: “I had the toughest year of my life in 2022, as did so many others. I literally found myself with no drive and purpose for the first time in my life.”
He opened up about using alcohol to cope with his mother’s death in 2015, admitting “I drank the pain away and kept going” until 2022 became a “tipping point.” This vulnerability resonated with fans and industry peers, highlighting the pressures faced by high-profile artists. His willingness to discuss these issues publicly has contributed to broader conversations about mental health in the music industry.
Skrillex’s influence extends far beyond Grammy counts and chart positions. He fundamentally changed how American audiences perceived electronic dance music, helping transform it from underground rave culture to mainstream festival phenomenon. His aggressive, high-energy sound appealed to rock and metal fans who might never have explored electronic music otherwise, expanding EDM’s demographic reach significantly.
The “brostep” sound he pioneered—characterized by distorted, metallic bass drops and aggressive production—became electronic music’s calling card in the early 2010s. While purists criticized this departure from dubstep’s UK roots, it created a distinctly American electronic sound that influenced countless producers. Artists from Excision to Zomboy to Virtual Riot all built on the foundations Skrillex established.
Perhaps more importantly, Skrillex proved electronic producers could be legitimate rock stars. His energetic stage presence, punk rock aesthetic, and crossover success demonstrated that DJs and producers deserved headliner status at major festivals. This paved the way for electronic artists to achieve unprecedented levels of fame and influence in the 2010s and beyond.
Through OWSLA, he created infrastructure supporting the next generation of electronic artists, ensuring his influence would compound as his protégés achieved their own success. His collaborative approach, willingness to experiment across genres, and commitment to artistic integrity over commercial safety established a blueprint for how electronic artists could build sustainable, respected careers.
Today, with nine Grammy Awards and over a decade of influence, Skrillex remains a vital force in electronic music. His shift toward independence and continued experimentation suggest the next chapter of his career will be as unpredictable and influential as everything that came before.
