The duo returns with another blast of beautiful chaos
Few bands have ever sounded quite like Sleigh Bells. Since exploding onto the scene with their unmistakable mix of towering pop hooks, blown-out guitars, and unapologetic volume, Alexis Krauss and Derek E. Miller have carved out a lane entirely their own.
Their latest album, Bunky Becky Birthday Boy, proves they're still pushing that sound forward. Equal parts euphoric and crushing, the record is packed with the kind of fearless songwriting that's made Sleigh Bells one of the most influential and unmistakable bands of the past 15 years. Rather than chasing trends, they continue to double down on what they do best—turning contrast into something exhilarating.
We caught up with Alexis and Derek to talk about where they grew up, the artists who first shaped their musical tastes, life beyond music, filming the ice-cold "Bunky Pop" video, and why Derek may—or may not—have lost part of his ass in the process.
Where did you grow up and where are you currently based?
Alexis Krauss : I grew up in New Jersey in a small beach town. Now I’m obsessed with climbing rocks and playing outside so I live in the Hudson Valley about 2 hrs north of NYC.
Derek E. Miller: I grew up surfing and skating in Jupiter, FL, lived in CA for a few years, moved to Brooklyn in March 2008, now I’m in Kingston, NY where I’ve been since July 2019.
Who was the person that got you into music? What bands/artists did they turn you on to?
AK: My dad. He’s been a working musician all his life. There was music on in my home constantly, everything from the Blues to Bowie. We spent a lot of time listening to oldies in the car. Roy Orbison, Beatles, Beach Boys, Ronettes, Supremes, Etta James and Elvis were all staples.
DM: My parents, initially, then a neighborhood friend named Brian. My Dad loved the Beatles (mostly the Red Album comp/early singles), CCR etc. The Good Morning Vietnam soundtrack was in heavy rotation, it still rips. My mom had really eclectic taste but mainly we blasted George Michael, Madonna, Janet, Whitney, Belinda, Tiffany, Taylor Dayne, Cyndi, Debbie, Michael, The Cars, INXS…the big blockbuster 80s artists. And they both absolutely loved Motown which is still a huge staple for me.
Brian moved from Manhattan into our neighborhood around ‘91 when I was about 10 (he was a year or two older.) He was the coolest kid alive as far as I was concerned, turned me on to a ton of stuff: Heavy D & The Boyz, Black Box, New Jack City soundtrack, Prince, Beastie Boys, Tevin Campbell, REM etc.
What's been the biggest non-music inspiration for you lately?
AK: My 17-month old son Wilder. His curiosity and energy is contagious.
DM: Luka and Bron. And this is music related but Harris Dickinson dancing to Father Figure.
Did you consider not shooting the "Bunky Pop" video on the day it was scheduled for. It looks COOOOOLD. Great video! The night shots are super sick too!
AK: Haha thank you! We knew it was going to be freezing but we had a very narrow window to make it happen so we didn’t really have a choice. It was pretty brutal but the entire crew and cast really rallied to make the experience fun despite the cold.
DM: What she said! You can do stuff like suck on ice cubes between takes so you don’t see everyone's breath, etc. but we just said to hell with it, embraced the cold and made it part of the video. I’m proud of myself for sticking with shorts despite the weather even though I got frostbite on my ass and had to have it amputated
HAHAHAHAH!
You've been a band for 16, 17 years now. That's no easy feat. What has been the best thing that's happened in that time for you personally and for the band?
AK: I love the way our creative partnership has evolved. It’s really rooted in trust and mutual respect.
DM: Yup, that and writing/making records together are definitely the highlights. So many incredible moments…tracking Alexis’s vocals is always huge for me; getting a rough mix going and really hearing the song for the first time is wild. Finishing "Rill Rill" at Treefort with Shane Stoneback in January 2010 was intense; I still get chills thinking about it. More recently, tracking scratch vocals for "Bunky Pop" and listening back at 115 dB floored me. We were in my home studio, I was jumping up and down yelling, “This is one of the best days of my life!” Alexis was just chilling on the couch, laughing at/with me, psyched! That’s the story of the band.
What's the biggest challenge that artists face today?
AK: This has pretty much always been the case, but I’d say trying to create a sustainable living making music. Touring, especially, is so expensive, and it’s difficult to do it in a cost-effective way.DM: Yeah, touring, especially since the pandemic, is definitely a challenge. If we went out as a two-piece, it’d be fine, but we really love touring as a four-piece with live drums, synths, and backup vocals…more life, energy, live bits, etc. It’s tough to make the budget work; you’ve got to stay on top of every detail/expense to make it work.
Are there any new artists you'd like to collaborate with? Other artists to appear on a song or even a visual artist for an album cover or merch?
AK: I’d love to work with Turnstile. Glow On was a big album for me. It would also be a dream come true to play some shows with them. I think that energy would be wild.
DM: I’m down to work with anyone who cares if it feels right, but overall, there’s just tons of good new stuff: Tyler, Doechii, Turnstile, They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Wishy, Charli, Clairo, Pool Kids, HudMo, AG Cook, Paris Texas, julie, Knocked Loose, the new Addison Rae single "High Fashion" is rad, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, SZA, Ada Rook, Mannequin Pussy, Danny Brown, Denzel Curry, Pumpkins, Kendrick, Jessica Pratt, High Vis, Dummy, Chat Pile, and way, way more.
You've been with Mom + Pop from the beginning. What's the key to a relationship between a band and a label lasting that long?
DM: The key, for us, is having somebody like Michael Goldstone, aka Goldie, in our corner. He is a true-blue, real-deal champion of artists and lover of music. He has lived it for decades. He is always there to support, offer useful, constructive feedback at the right moments, and ultimately back you 100% once you’ve decided on a course of action. He is family to us; we love him, and I can’t imagine doing this without him and our incredible Mom + Pop team. Having people on your side who are honest and care about your well-being as a person as well as an artist is massive. Not enough artists have that. I wish I could snap my fingers and provide it for everyone, I really do, because it’s a huge piece of the puzzle, and we are probably not around without it.
“My goal is to be madly in love with whatever we are making while we are making it.”
Recently, has anything negative happened that, looking back, felt like it had a specific, positive purpose? A "happened for a reason" moment.
DM: I’m coming up on two years completely drug-free. This is on the back of many, many years of total failure in that department. I had a very close call on May 4, 2023; outside of the day my Dad died, it was easily the worst moment of my life. BUT when it became clear I was going to live, my perspective flipped, and it became one of the best. I knew that horrible chapter was closed. Ask for help if you are struggling. Seriously.
What platforms have been the most helpful for the band? YouTube, TikTok, IG, etc.
DM: In the early days, YouTube was going off pretty hard. Instagram is pretty much the main thing for us now. If you can avoid the “compare and despair” thing, it’s a great tool.
How would you define success?
DM: My goal is to be madly in love with whatever we are making while we are making it. When you’re working on something new that you believe in with every fiber of your being it truly changes your day/week/month/year which is to say it changes your life. Doesn’t mean it’s always great but you do your best every time out and if you’re lucky you’ll touch on something exciting and maybe even beautiful here and there. That is my definition of success.
Can you share one of your lyrics from your songs that sums up your state of mind RN / feels representative of you?
DM: “I only fall in love with the flaws, things that you’re ashamed of”
Thank you!!!
Follow Sleigh Bells on IG at @sleighbells
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