While studying intermedia arts at Mills College in the music department, Cheslow began performing and exhibiting experimental music, sound art, and installations. In 2000, she participated in the first Ladyfest in Olympia with her composition "Geodessy for Guitars (for Yasunao Tone)", collaborating with sisters Wendy Yao and Amy Yao from Emily's Sassy Lime in the experimental sound installation performance art Coterie Exchange project, during an art exhibit curated by Audrey Marrs. Cheslow's sound collages and explorations are documented on the CD, "Lullabye from the Sky", released in 2002 on Decomposition under the name Sharon Cheslow and Coterie Exchange. It featured collaborations with Tim Green, Julianna Bright and members of Deerhoof among others. The project was the audio component from sound installations she had been performing. In 2003 "Fan Music: Winds of Change" was featured at Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Her videos to the tracks "Dream/Construct" and "September Son" are on two Kill Rock Stars video compilations. In 2004 she toured and collaborated with Yellow Swans, Inca Ore, and Chuck Bettis.