The Allure of The Dare

Dancing, drugs, and debauchery

Have you ever heard of Harrison Patrick Smith? Me neither, until I began researching this article. The ex-substitute teacher turned DJ, and indie-sleaze provocateur is better known by his stage name, The Dare. The artist’s rapid rise to cult status has been as eclectic as his background as he honed his craft — a mix of the indie-sleaze and electroclash revival — bringing the underground New York dance music scene to the mainstream.

The Dare became famous seemingly overnight; how’d he do it? Today, you might recognise him for his song ‘Girls’, his collaboration with Charli XCX on her song ‘Guess’, or his Ibiza Boiler Room set, but Smith has been making music since college. While studying English Literature at Portland, Oregon’s liberal arts university Lewis & Clark, he started his first project under the name Turtlenecked and gained a following throughout the Pacific Northwest. However, it wasn’t until he moved to New York for his substitute teaching position that his new persona, The Dare, came to life. In August 2022, he released his first hit single ‘Girls’ which caught the attention of Charli XCX (whom he would later work with), stating in an interview that same year that “it really goes off at parties.”

In many ways, I would attribute his success to his individuality. While everyone was trying to make country music, he stuck to what he did best — something edgy, something kind of dirty, and something completely intoxicating. Smith has cultivated a brand for The Dare, starting with his signature cigarette, sunglasses, and sleek Gucci suit. Dripping with sweat during his performances, the iconic suit comes off in parts, leaving him surfing the crowds in an unbuttoned, slightly translucent shirt, often heard screaming, “YOW!”

Now, onto the music itself. There’s a sense of nostalgia in his work, revisiting an era that wasn’t afraid to be messy. His sound recalls the gritty music of the early 2000s, when the scene was more about the experience than the aesthetics. It was a time before Instagram — a time when music and nightlife felt unscripted.

Though The Dare is undeniably a figurehead of the indie sleaze renaissance, I think it’s unfair to exclusively categorise him as such. His music is so much more: it's cathartic; it makes you want to dance; it makes you want to indulge in your desires and give in to the chaos that he brings to the room. Smith’s music is not for everyone, and that seems to be precisely the point. Tracks like 'Perfume' and 'Girls' hit hard with abrasive beats and intentionally provocative lyrics — the chorus of the latter declaring, “I like girls who make love, but I love girls who like to f***." And another from The Sex EP, “I wanna turn your face into a trampoline.” This unabashed sentiment explains the demographic of his expanding fanbase: party-goers seeking an exhilarating experience. Some publications have hailed him the “next LCD Soundsystem,” others are offended by this comparison. But there’s no denying it: his music is a jolt to the system; it's pure fun and pure sex. I invite you to listen, to indulge, in fact, in The Dare’s music, rooted in an anti-polish ethos that refuses to cater to mainstream tastes and choosing instead to evoke a reaction — whether that be offence or obsession.

One of the more curious aspects of Smith’s rise is his unexpected sex appeal. Some describe him as “ugly-hot” or “another mid white boy,” while others joke that he “looks British, but not in a good way.” Yet there’s something about his nonchalant attitude and debauched persona that has struck a chord with our generation. Perhaps it’s his authenticity — or at least the appearance of it — that sets him apart.

In an era where so much of music is designed for mass appeal, dominated by the likes of Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift, The Dare offers a refreshing, alluring alternative. Whether you love him or hate him, he demands attention. And for the growing number of fans caught up in the resurgence of indie sleaze and dance-punk, that’s exactly what makes him so irresistible. His newest album What’s Wrong with New York? was released earlier this month and, if I’ve enticed you, you can catch him live in London this November. I’ll see you there.

Illustration by Isabella Abbott