What’s a Blogger to The Dare?
Words and Photographs by Willow Shields
The Dare: real name Harrison Patrick Smith. Looks British but isn’t, produced ‘Guess’ on critically acclaimed record ‘brat and it's the same but there's three more songs so it isn't’ by Charli xcx, and is perhaps the single hottest man making slightly-silly-but-very-sexy electro-punk music right now. In May of 2023 he released ‘The Sex EP’ consisting of four songs, one of which would be his most popular to date. ‘Girls’ is a gargantuan track in which he doesn't take himself too seriously - the same can be said for his entire catalogue. Which I think is one of the biggest draws of this project, it's all a bit silly. This year, The Dare’s debut record ‘What's Wrong With New York?’ was released and suddenly he was everywhere. The official headline is in: CLUB MUSIC IS BACK! Charli xcx is leading the revolution and The Dare is a gold plated general.
He took over The Arch on a Sunday night in late November, and my account begins with me covered in glitter, wearing a ridiculous fluffy coat, slip-sliding down Queens Road towards the seafront. Battling the wind and rain, aided only by warm company and vodka. Walking into The Arch, droplets of seawater hitting the back of our necks, I was hit by the smell of smoke machines and all flavours of vape. This particular show was taking place in one of the very few 14+ venues available to Brighton teens, and though the value of these spaces I grew up in is immeasurable, this time had the distinct vibe of a freshers event and I haven't been to uni for years. The DJ on the decks before the official support DJ was adding, unfortunately, to the freshers' aire, however I am ardently placing blame on my own shoulders for not stepping into a local nightclub in a very long time. Exploring the smoky venue felt like some sort of dream, corridors upon corridors, staircases leading to dead ends and little pleather seating areas absolutely everywhere. When I found my way out of the maze, I was hit with the heat. The main room’s occupants were starting to sweat more than an hour before The Dare was set to come on. When the tunes finally started to amp up, I was smoking borrowed cigarettes in the biting wind. Suddenly, a chorus of screams. It seemed I had missed something.
Upon returning into the vast arched room, Harrison and his trademark sunglasses were nowhere to be seen, more exploring then. Having then found the lighting desk, with more pleather seating behind it, I took some respite. More screams erupted and I shot up. I saw him then. Mirroring the excited crowd, yet subdued and calm. He was gazing over the crowd as an emperor would over his subjects, all knowing and mightily powerful. On paper, he is just a man in a shabby black suit and sunglasses, but there's something else to him, the presence he has is undeniable…something that oozes. That presence filled the entire building when he finally took to the stage of The Arch. Beginning his set almost demure in nature, keeping to his decks and ignoring the crowd as if it was a girl he was trying to play hard to get with. This was all suddenly thrust away with him jumping into the embrace of several arms at the barrier within the first song. The show was on. He spent the next 45 minutes jumping around the stage with the velocity of a firecracker, striking several poses and flinging himself into the crowd more than thrice.
I, of course, found myself in the three inch gap between the barrier and the stage for the first few songs. Bass vibrating through my chest cavity, I was completely enthralled. Trying to take photographs but getting distracted and becoming more and more inclined to write this particular piece with every glance over his Ray-bans I caught a glimpse of. My personal highlights of his set were I Destroyed Disco, Sex and Girls, also a mini intermission-esq remix of ‘Guess’, I of course got the unique opportunity to sit infront of the front row and then to go party at the back - I don’t think that gets said enough. I got to experience the in-your-face nature of The Dare, well, in my face, every single beat charging through my body straight from the source. But as I snaked to the back of the venue, I also got to experience the magic of being at an event that absolutely everyone there wants to be at. Arms waving in the air, puffs of pineapple scented water vapour over-head and every single person singing every single lyric. Those rare moments are rare for a reason and The Dare, just has it.
The Dare is not only a performer of a generation, but also a unique producer and music maker. And as I was reluctantly pulled away from under the arches and reunited with the wind and rain, I reflected. Those thoughts were quickly and violently interrupted by two boys jumping on top of a large recycling bin, but that's the gist of it all.
The Dare plays Kentish Town Forum on Tuesday the 26th before heading to Australia and back to The States. He will be back in the UK in Bristol, Manchester and Glasgow in March 2025.
