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Skrillex shares surprise over Grammy nominations

Many people were surprised when the name Skrillex was announced in the best-new-artist category along with the likes of Nicki Minaj and the Band Perry during last week’s televised Grammy nominations special.

Count Skrillex among them.

A day after earning a whopping five nominations, the 23-year-old dance and dub-step producer is still taking it all in.

“It just hasn’t really hit me yet,” he said in an Associated Press phone interview from Manchester, England, on Thursday. “I wouldn’t have thought I would come this far in so many ways.”

Skrillex scored the third-most nominations, matching Lil Wayne. Kanye West leads with seven nods; Adele, the Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars scored six each.

The Los Angeles-based Skrillex, born Sonny Moore, may be best known for “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.” He’s also a producer on Korn’s new album, “The Path of Totality,” out this week.

Skrillex hasn’t had much success on the Billboard charts - he’s more of an underground artist. He’ll have some tough competition in the best-new-artist category: Besides facing the Band Perry and Miss Minaj, who both have dominated their respective fields and other awards shows, he’ll compete with Bon Iver, a critical darling; and J. Cole, who had a No.1 album and is the protege of Jay-Z.

Skrillex is nominated for best dance recording for “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” and also is nominated for best dance/electronica album for his EP, which has the same name. In 2010, Lady Gaga earned those trophies, and Rihanna’s “Only Girl (in the World)” was the winner for best dance recording earlier this year.

“I feel very proud of where I come from,” Skrillex said of being in the electronic music scene, a genre that has exploded on Top 40 radio in recent years. “I do feel like I represent something and I’m a part of something, and it’s an honor to be there.”

• Compiled from Web and wire service reports.