Chillex: Skrillex Songs to Soothe the Soul
Sonny Moore, former lead vocalist of emo band From First to Last and prolific DJ/producer Skrillex, is my favorite musical artist. Although he is best known for his aggressive, chaotic sound, Sonny’s discography is rich with tranquility, positivity, social acceptance, and playfulness -- all of which are characteristics of Sonny himself, by all accounts.
Over the past 7 years of my Skrillex fandom, these tracks have been go-to songs when I’ve needed peace, introspection, or an appreciation of life’s beauty. Plus, you can play them in the house without scaring your parents.
1. “With You, Friends [Long Drive]” by Skrillex
It only seems right to start with my all-time favorite song. As is the case with many tracks on this list, Skrillex chops and pitches his own vocals to form a melody that falls into an ambiguous zone between lyrics and instrumentation. Not every vocal clip is decipherable, but you can pick up enough phrases (e.g., “all my love”) to piece together a picture of embarking on a long journey, literal or figurative, with beloved friends at your side.
2. “Summit (ft. Ellie Goulding)” by Skrillex
“Summit” uniquely fuses a serene melody with the Dubstep kick-and-snare beat that usually accompanies Skrillex’s more hectic songs. Skrillex and Ellie (“Skrellie?”) likely recorded this song around the time of their roughly year-long relationship in 2011-2012. Although I was sad to see them split, I admit it’s probably hard to have a girlfriend and over 300 shows a year.
3. “Fire Away” by Skrillex
The lyrics are only three unique phrases, but each is powerfully vulnerable and confident. The oft-repeated lines declare an affinity for companionship and a willingness to shed one’s past life for a brighter future -- both of which are common themes of Sonny’s music and personal life.
4. “Pretty Bye Bye” by Skrillex, Team EZY, Njomza
I love how this song’s title reads like a descriptive file name. I imagine Skrillex and company made the track and then had a conversation along the lines of, “Well the song says ‘bye bye’ a lot, and it’s really pretty, so… wanna just call it ‘Pretty Bye Bye’?”
5. “All I Ask Of You (feat. Pennybirdrabbit)” by Skrillex
Don’t let the ominous drum beat throw you off -- this track is softened by a Deadmau5-esque groove of ethereal synths and a steady kick drum. Perfect for those late night drives when you just wanna let the rhythm ride.
6. “Would You Ever” by Skrillex, Poo Bear
The similar energy between “With You, Friends” (released in 2010) and “Would You Ever” (a brand new single) proves that despite his musical evolution, Skrillex will always be able to produce heartening, feel-good jams that are more likely to evoke nostalgic memories than induce head-banging. It may have more energy than other entries on this list, but the melodic vocals and hopeful lyrics make “Would You Ever” a stellar addition to the Chillex collection.