[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sonny_smiling_5991.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[SingerNamedrop His name is Skrillex.]]]]
->''"I never set out to be part of a genre, because I listen to all types of music."''

Sonny John Moore (born January 15, 1988), better known as Skrillex, is a DJ and {{electronic music}} producer best known for being the poster boy of {{dubstep}}. He's also a great name to drop if you want to send someone off on an angry tangent or make a new best friend.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Moore was raised by two adoptive parents, Scott and Francis Moore. He began writing music when he was 9, after receiving a guitar from his father as a gift. At age 12, he started attending local concerts, primarily as a way to make friends and socialize, as he was homeschooled. Moore started several bands around this time before joining the {{screamo}}[=/=]{{metalcore}} band From First to Last when he was 16. He was originally slated to play guitar for the band but was changed to lead singer after he was heard singing by studio producers.

In June 2004, Epitaph Records released FFTL's first full-length record with their new bandmate, ''[[ShoutOut Dear Diary,]] [[Film/{{Heathers}} My Teen Angst Has a Body Count]]''. After performing on several successful tours (two of which being the Vans Warped Tour and Dead By Dawn tour), they began recording their second album (with former Music/LimpBizkit guitarist Wes Borland playing bass), ''Heroine'', released in March 2006. The album garnered high sales and, once again, the band found themselves in another slew of tours. Unfortunately, Moore started suffering vocal problems, causing FFTL to resign from touring. After going through a successful surgical procedure, Moore informed the band in 2007 that he would be permanently resigning to work on a solo career. [[TheBusCameBack (He returned to the band in 2017.)]]

Moore would spend the next few months releasing demos under his real name via [=MySpace=]. He toured with a few bands and contributed to Wes Borland's Music/BlackLightBurns project, but never really made it big under his solo work, though he continued to make music with various bands into 2009.

In 2008, Moore began deejaying under the name Skrillex at clubs in the Los Angeles area, and released his official debut EP, ''My Name is Skrillex'', in 2010 as a free download. Later in the year, he began a nationwide tour with Music/{{deadmau5}} after being signed to his label [=mau5trap=] and released his second EP, ''Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites''. His first full album as Skrillex, ''Recess'', was released in 2014; his next album, ''Quest for Fire'', was released in 2023, with another album (''Don't Get Too Close'') being surprise-released two days later. In the nine-year interim, he also became known for his work on several side projects such as Dog Blood (with fellow producer Boys Noize) and Jack Ü (with another fellow producer, Diplo).

He also composed the opening song for ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', "Face My Fears", and has [[RecordProducer produced]] music for several prominent artists including Music/JustinBieber, Music/MariahCarey, Music/LadyGaga, Music/FKATwigs, and Music/{{Beyonce}}.

Skrillex's current music tends to have a very light-versus-dark vibe to it, often created by bright melodies contrasting with harsh bass drops, and spans many sub-genres of electronic music. Some hail him as a new wave of electronic music, bringing in fresh fans and faces, while others claim that he changed it and now it sucks, especially in regards to his dubstep material. Has Skrillex simply altered the landscape of EDM, or has he destroyed it? Only time will tell.

By the way, [[WordOfGod according to him]], his alias is just a childhood nickname that [[PerfectlyCromulentWord doesn't really mean anything]].
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!!Discography:
* ''Gypsyhook'' (as Sonny Moore) (2009)
* ''Bells'' (leaked - no official release)
* ''My Name is Skrillex'' EP (2010)
* ''Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites'' EP (2010)
* ''More Monsters and Sprites'' EP (2010)
* ''Bangarang'' EP (2011)
* ''Make It Bun Dem[=/=]After Hours'' EP (2012)
* ''Leaving'' EP (2013)
* ''Recess'' (2014)
* ''Show Tracks'' (2019)
* ''Quest for Fire'' (2023)
* ''Don't Get Too Close'' (2023)
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!!Tropes related to Skrillex:
* AlbumTitleDrop: ''My Name is Skrillex''. There is a song with that title on the EP, and the phrase itself is said many times.
* AnimalMotif: More than not, he's compared to a koala by fans.
* AscendedMeme: He's mentioned Grillex on twitter.
* TheAtoner: In the music video for "Bangarang", the boy who chopped off the gluttonous ice cream vendor's hand during a heist on his van couldn't enjoy his red-topped ice cream, reminding him of that act. Years later, as an adult, he gives the same man one of the stolen cases of cash, which he and his ChildhoodFriends (who were also involved in that heist years ago) stole from professional thieves, and is seen finally being able to enjoy the same red-topped ice cream.
* AudienceParticipationSong: Often Skrillex will turn down his music and have the crowd sing a phrase or word (usually "My Name is Skrillex" and the ending of "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites".)
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL_PzCjXU9I His remix of "Cinema"]] really seems to be a fan favorite.
* AutoTune: Uses the software for a more obvious electronic voice-warping sound.
* BlindWithoutEm: Those glasses aren't just a fashion statement.
* BrownNote: "Ruffneck (FULL Flex)" has some extremely loud and polarizingly high and low synths repeated and played at the same time. This may be the intent based on the music video.
* ButtMonkey: To Music/{{Deadmau5}}.
* ClusterFBomb: "Fuck That".
* CreatorCameo: He contributed to ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'''s soundtrack, and briefly appeared at a party as the DJ.
* CoveredWithScars: Because of a hormone imbalance and medication taken to counteract it, Skrillex has a lot of acne scars on his face. This has contributed a lot to low self-esteem and is also the reason he got an undercut: he was trying to wean himself off of hiding his face with his hair.
* ElectronicMusic: Including, but not limited to:
** ElectroHouse
** {{Trance}}: Some scant elements, mainly used as a "light" contrast [[MoodWhiplash against the dirty, bassy drops]].
** {{Dubstep}}: Co-{{Trope Codifier}} for the hard-edged Brostep subgenre, but also a force in the genre's softer side.
* {{Emo}}: Due to his raccoon-eyed and long-fringed past, he's occasionally the target of good-natured EmoKid jokes from his fellow producers (especially deadmau5)
* EmoTeen: Boy, was he ever.
* EnfantTerrible: The little girl in the "First of the Year (Equinox)" video is either GuardianEntity or AWolfInSheepsClothing.
* ExpectingSomeoneTaller: He's 5'4".
* FakeOutFadeOut: During "Summit". It goes on for about two more minutes after this.
* FanVerse: A popular fan consensus is that [[SecretIdentity Skrillex is actually an alien]]. Skrillex knows about this and -- to an extent -- encourages it, since [[AscendedFanon he thinks aliens are really cool.]] Likely {{lampshade|Hanging}}d by the name of one of his tours - the ''Mothership'' tour.
* GenreBusting: He is his own genre. Or his own 4 or 5 genres.
* GenreMashup: Many of his songs. Two in particular stand out: "Breakn' a Sweat," a mix of rock and his typical music, which he did with Music/TheDoors, and "Make it Bun Dem," a combination of dubstep and reggae, complete with one of Music/BobMarley's sons on vocals.
* GenreRoulette: ''Recess'' bounces all over the place, moreso than anything else he's put out before.
* GratuitousJapanese: Under the name Sonny Moore he released "海水" (Kai Sui), a Japanese version of "Mora". A couple of times he has also said "Moshi Moshi" on Twitter.
* HeliumSpeech: His natural singing voice sounds like this. It's very distinct.
* IAmSong: "My Name Is Skrillex".
* IconicOutfit: Long sleeve black shirts, black pants, black everything else, giant hipster glasses. Also, [[http://www.somekindofawesome.com/storage/post-images/skrillex.jpeg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1304594925267 this outfit]].
* ImportantHaircut: Sonny gave himself his signature undercut at about the same time he started to release [=EPs=] as Skrillex. During the promotional cycle for his 2023 solo comeback, he underwent another haircut, abandoning his undercut for a close cut and growing out a beard.
* {{Keet}}: He's like this sometimes.
* LaserGuidedKarma: The gluttonous ice cream truck driver that ate his own merchandise in the video for "Bangarang" loses his hand near the end of the "boys" part of it.
* {{Leitmotif}}: The opening note of "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" (''wananana, nananana'') is very distinctive, and prominently featured on all the song's official remixes and Varien's "Skrillex Orchestral Suite" medley.
* LighterAndSofter: "With You, Friends (Long Drive)" and "All I Ask of You" from ''Scary Monsters'', and "Summit" from ''Bangarang''.
** Even more recently, “Still Here (with the ones that i came with)” from Quest For Fire and entirety of Don’t Get Too Close can also count as this.
* LimitedWardrobe: Or so you'd think. He seems to own about four plaid shirts (either gray or black), a few black t-shirts, and one white shirt that throws fans into a tizzy any time it appears, just because it's different. Of course, all of his pants are black.
* LittleMissBadass: The young girl in his "First of the Year (Equinox)" music video.
* LongHairedPrettyBoy: He definitely has long hair...on most of his head.
* LoopedLyrics: "Rock N' Roll (Will Take You to the Mountains)" and "WEEKENDS!!!", as well as a few more.
** MY. NAME. IS. SKRILLEX.
* LoudnessWar
* MindOverMatter: The music video for "First of the Year".
* MoodWhiplash: This is basically his musical style, juxtaposing lighter melodies with "gritty" bass lines.
** Up to eleven by "Ruffneck (Flex)" and "Ruffneck (Full Flex)".
** The ''Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites'' EP has "[[SillyLoveSongs All I Ask of You]]", a very lighthearted and uplifting song... placed between [[NightmareFuel "Kill Everybody"]] and [[HellIsThatNoise "Scatta".]]
* NerdGlasses: The hipster glasses aren't just for show. Poor guy really is BlindWithoutThem.
* NewSoundAlbum:
** ''Recess'' proved to be this. Of the tracks on the album, only two of them were definitively Skrillex-esque, Try It Out (which was released the year before) and All Is Fair In Love And Brostep (which is classic.) The rest are experimental or {{Pop}}. Most certainly Doompy Poomp, which is pretty much a more cartoonish glitch hop track then any of his usual combinations of genres. This hasn't stopped this album from being well received though.
** ''Quest For Fire'' is an even further departure from ''Recess'', reflecting Skrillex's work as a hip-hop and pop producer in the near decade gap between the two albums. The brostep influences are entirely gone, instead going for a GenreRoulette including dance-pop, HouseMusic, and UK-style dubstep and two-step garage.
* NiceGuy: Ridiculously nice.
* OmnicidalManiac: The main subject of "Kill Everybody" is a guy who wants to [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin kill everybody in the world.]]
* PaedoHunt: Whatever the little girl thing in the video for "First of The Year" is, she's on one. A highly successful one, judging by the tally marks.
* [[RockersSmashGuitars Producers Smash MacBooks]]: When Skrillex's gear stops working mid-show, things get... theatrical.
* RapRock: "Kyoto" is a foray into it.
* {{Sampling}}: Though he more often uses random sound clips from Website/YouTube videos and his own mixed up vocals than other songs.
* SensoryAbuse:
** "Born This Way (Died This Way)". It includes a lead melody formed by pure screaming from hell.
** "Ruffneck (Full Flex)", while not as unsettling, may be [[BrownNote even worse]] due to the ''extremely'' high synths contrasted with extremely deep bass at the same time.
** The horrific-sounding guttural bass in "Scatta".
* ShoutOut:
** ''Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites'' is a reference to ''Music/ScaryMonstersAndSuperCreeps'' by Music/DavidBowie.
** "Bangarang" has the lyric "Shout out to all my lost boys, we rowdy", sung by Sirah. In the film ''Film/{{Hook}}'', the Lost Boys' BattleCry was "bangarang". The music video is littered with hidden references to Peter Pan in general.
** ''Breakin' a Sweat'' has the singer shouting [[Music/TheDoors "Come on baby, light my fire."]] Guess which band is featured on the song?
** The summoned monster in the "First of the Year" video looks quite a lot like [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos the Slender Man]].
** From First to Last's debut album (''Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count'') comes from a line in the film ''Film/{{Heathers}}''.
* SleepCute: [[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151154687925235&set=a.10151154675210235.799807.515405234&type=3&permPage=1 With Zedd and Steve Aoki.]]
* SmokingIsCool: Played up by some of his publicity photos.
* StageNames: Skrillex being his stage name and his real name being Sonny Moore, as stated above.
* StealthPun: See ShoutOut example above.
** Also, in the music video for "First Of The Year (Equinox)", the little girl who appears to be channeling/possessed by Slenderman is shown, while already on a (toy) phone, screaming at the person on the other end to "Call 911 now!". If she's on the phone and telling somebody to call a number for her, that means she's talking to [[WebVideo/MarbleHornets the operator]].
* SurprisinglyGentleSong: "All I Ask Of You", "Summit", "Leaving", and "With You, Friends (Long Drive)". Pretty much [[OncePerEpisode once per EP]].
* TakeThat: "Rock n' Roll (Will Take You to the Mountain)" seems to be one towards those who think that [[ElectronicMusic electronica]] isn't "real" music, or possibly just towards rock music altogether.
** Alternatively, the last bit of sampling in the song could be him [[TakeThatMe mocking himself]] for becoming an electronic artist and not being a "real" musician anymore.
*** It is actually an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jztRZ34AEcY#t=0m40s audiocut from a promotional video]] done by a fellow DJ group, "The Glitch Mob."
* TropeCodifier: For "brostep" (also known as "filthstep") a subset of Dubstep which specializes in gratuitous, distorted basslines, cacophonous electronics and climatic "drops."
* TruckDriversGearChange: Inverted in "Scatta". The bridge actually shifts down a whole step. The effect is SugarWiki/{{awesome|Music}}.

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