In Los Angeles, where electronic music has long been part of the city’s DNA, a new wave of drum & bass has steadily been gaining momentum. Skellytn is right at the center of it.
Before the alias, there was Kaley Czerwonka, a Los Angeles native who grew up listening to electronic music. Early influences like Deadmau5, Headhunterz, Benga & Coki, and Skrillex helped shape her taste. But it was artists like Teddy Killerz, Andy C, and Chase & Status that pulled her fully into the world of drum & bass.
Her turning point came at Escape Halloween in 2015. Freshly 18, she found herself looking up at the stage and realizing exactly what she wanted to do. “I looked up at the stage and knew I wanted to do that. I’m here eleven years later still DJing, producing EDM, and going to shows.”
Not long after, she started building the skills to make that vision real. In 2016, she began producing and enrolled at Icon Collective. “Icon Collective was a special place that brought together a community of producers and talented vocalists. It gave me a solid foundation of skills to build my sound and develop my artistic vision.”
The name Skellytn reflects both personality and personal experience. Her love for Halloween aesthetics paired with a back injury that left a lasting impact. It’s a name that stuck, and one that now carries weight in the drum & bass scene.
Sonically, Skellytn has carved out a lane rooted in neurofunk, one of drum & bass’s most technical and high-energy subgenres. Her sound design is sharp and deliberate. She is known for her cyberpunk aesthetic that translates across her music, visuals, and overall project. Her 2022 album Neurocomputer marked a major step forward, solidifying her presence within the genre.
At the same time, her range extends beyond just one style. “Everything that I do is between 172-176bpm, but within that small limitation of bpm I can explore a wide variety of sound.” Within that tempo range, she moves between 4×4, halftime, liquid, and jungle, showing a deep understanding of drum & bass as a whole.
Like many women in electronic music, her path hasn’t been without challenges. “When I started ten years ago, it was very difficult to be a woman in the industry. I’m happy to report that times have changed! I think that promoters and labels are giving more opportunities to talented women artists.” For those just starting out, she keeps her advice straightforward: “Fight through the adversities and noise – let your passion and talent shine through. Stay consistent, work hard, and surround yourself with people who genuinely want to see you win. The effort you put in will pay off.”
Her releases have landed on respected labels like Play Me Records, Bassrush, Deadbeats, and Cyclops Recordings. She also became the first female artist to release on EATBRAIN, a major milestone within the neurofunk community. More recently, she released her Stellar Siege EP on Mau5trap. “It’s some of my strongest tunes to date, with a variety of DnB, halftime, and breaks.”
On stage, Skellytn has already built an impressive resume, performing at festivals like Escape Halloween, EDC Las Vegas, Apocalypse Zombieland, and Lost Lands. One standout moment came at the Tacoma Dome, where she performed alongside Subtronics. “It was a truly special experience. I remember not being able to see the back of the crowd!”
Her rise also aligns with a larger shift happening across the U.S. After years of being labeled “next up,” drum & bass is finally breaking through in a major way. Festival mainstages are embracing it, and movements like WORSHIP are selling out venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre. From her perspective, the momentum is undeniable. “Drum & Bass is thriving in the States! I see more and more people discovering the genre and supporting the scene. Here in Los Angeles, we have a powerhouse of artists pushing the sound: Dr. Apollo, LMNOP, Reid Speed, Machete, and Dip Vertigo.”
As drum & bass continues to grow in the U.S., Skellytn is helping define what that future looks like. Stay up to date with new releases and show announcements for Skellytn by using the links below.
