The Dare

The Dare is the stage name of New York-based artist Harrison Patrick Smith, who is known for his synthy, often satirically debauched brand of 2000s indie-sleaze and electroclash-style dance-pop. Following his work as Turtlenecked, Smith garnered buzz in 2022 with the single "Girls." He released his debut album as the Dare, What's Wrong with New York?, in 2024.

Born in Los Angeles, Harrison Patrick Smith grew up in Seattle, where he played violin and guitar from a young age. After high school, he studied English literature at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. It was while there that he formed the indie rock outfit Turtlenecked, releasing 2016's Pure and several EPs.

By 2017, Smith had relocated to New York City, where he continued to perform with Turtlenecked. He also worked as a substitute teacher and DJed. It was during this period that Smith began recording songs under the name the Dare, many written with a satirical, tongue-in-cheek tone and fusing the sound of '80s post-punk with a 2000s indie-sleaze and electroclash aesthetic. In August 2022, he released "Girls" as the first the Dare single, a hooky, synth-based dance track with a wry, sex-positive message. The pulsing dancefloor banger "Good Time" followed soon after, with both songs ending up on 2023's The Sex EP. In 2024, he delivered his full-length debut as the Dare, What's Wrong with New York?, which featured "Girls," along with the '80s-inspired post-punk single "Perfume." ~ Matt Collar