Alexis Krauss


Alexis Krauss is an American singer, songwriter, former schoolteacher, activist and frontwoman of the noise pop duo Sleigh Bells. She is co-founder of Beauty Lies Truth, a website dedicated to educating consumers about the ingredients in personal care products.
Krauss studied International Studies at Marymount Manhattan College, and then received New York State certificates for elementary and bilingual education at Pace University. After completing Teach For America and meeting her bandmate Derek E. Miller, she began her career as a full-time musician.

Early life

Sydney Alexis Duncan Krauss was born and raised in Manasquan, New Jersey, where she attended Manasquan High School. Her father, Joel Krauss, is a professional musician who was a member of Holme and a founding member of Cats on a Smooth Surface. Her mom is Karen Duncan, a registered nurse.
Krauss performed in music and musical theatre from the age of nine until the age of 16. 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.
After breaking from music, she returned to school and majored in international studies in college.

Sleigh Bells

Krauss had been teaching elementary school via Teach for America for two years before she met soon-to-be Sleigh Bells bandmate Derek E. Miller, who was the server at the restaurant she and her mother were dining in. Miller mentioned that he was looking for a vocalist for his music project and Krauss' mother suggested Krauss.

Other ventures

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. The blog was officially launched in August 2014.

Discography

Studio albums with Sleigh Bells