Were the fans at the O2 Forum watching the origins of a new pop icon?
This year has seen a lengthy repertoire of megastars going on tours both UK and Worldwide – from Chappell Roan to Fontaines D.C.
As the end of the year draws near, fairly new artist Harrison Patrick Smith – better known by his hedonistic party boy alter ego ‘The Dare’ is making waves as he embarks on the UK leg of his Whats Wrong With New York? tour.
Charismatic, mysterious, and embracing the indie sleaze aesthetic; The Dare is a fresh face in the indie/pop/dance-punk genre that had a chokehold on the music industry in the mid 2000s and early 2010s.
Following the release of his debut album What’s Wrong with New York? which dropped after a high profile collaboration with it girl Charli XCX on her sensationalised album Brat, he was supported by the success of his viral track ‘Girls’ – an ironically insolent dance-punk anthem that plays with the singer’s love for all women.
In a recent Independent interview, Smith was asked why people are turning back to the partying lifestyle of the original indie pop wave.
“People want to let loose and have fun with really aggressive, loud bass,” he said. “Then there’s the panopticon of social media; people want to return to an era that was dirtier and less fashionable when we didn’t care so much about being sweaty.”
The demand for scandalous, sweaty club nights and music that highlights the grittiness of the indie music scene has left an opening for Smith to make a space for himself and has helped him gain an increasingly-large cult following.
At his most recent performance at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, the hazy venue was the perfect setting for a bass-filled night of intense dancing.
Smith appeared for the most part as a suit-clad silhouette, emerging from time-to-time from behind the array of lights and thick fog – which may have been a mix of smoke machines and cigarette smoke.
It seems that when spotting a fan of ‘The Dare’ there are a few telling signs. Suits, sunglasses, and mod style haircuts made up a large majority of the enthusiastic crowd, many of them sporting fashionable tributes to the origins of ‘Indie Sleaze’ such as leather jackets and graphic prints.
The overall style is reminiscent of Oasis or even the early stages of the Beatles. Smith’s now notorious look of tailored suits and tinted sunglasses gives him an aura of timelessness and unabridged coolness, something the concert goers picked up on when we spoke to them.
“I think young people now are looking for fun. It feels like recently a lot of music events have become more surface level. It’s like people only go to things to post on insta and not because they actually enjoy the music,” said Scarlet, a 20-year-old student.
“Some of our favourite artists are LCD Soundsystem and Artic Monkeys and it’s cool to see that people can still make that kind of music and there is a space for it,” Jamie, 22, told us.
There is no denying that the Dare is at the forefront of this movement back to indie grunge. He has been cast as the poster boy for messy and sexy music and as an ambassador for the carefree party-boy lifestyle.
“People want to return to an era that was dirtier and less fashionable when we didn’t care so much about being sweaty.”
The Dare – The Independent
The majority of the crowd at the O2 forum was also visibly under 25, many concert-goers being university students or recent graduates. When asked if there is a reason why Smith seems to be more popular with a younger demographic, the most common reply followed similar lines.
“I think Tik Tok really blew up The Dare so that’s probably why everyone is so young, but I think his music can appeal to anyone who just wants to party and listen to good music,” said one attendee, who did not want to be named, but held a cigarette in one hand and double pint glass in the other.
“I also think that he doesn’t want one fan group, I feel like part of being a fan of The Dare is that you can be anyone. Like my mum could be here and enjoy herself,” said Aimee, a 23-year-old student.
It seems that a lot of fans love The Dare not only for his music but also for the narrative and world he has created. Similar to Charli XCX and the success of her album Brat earlier in the year.
Smith and Charli XCX already have an existing friendship that was shown in full force on their collaboration on Brat which included the hugely successful single ‘Guess’ featuring pop superstar Billie Eilish.
The track includes the lyrics “Send ’em to the Dare, yeah I think he’s with it”, which highlights Smith’s involvement in producing the track.
A huge part of the success of Brat was because of the world Charli XCX built around it. The album is now synonymous with hardcore partying, female relationships, the summer of 2024, and the colour green.
It seems that Smith is following along the lines of his friend, and Whats Wrong With New York? creates a world of lewd partying, carefree thinking, and altogether freeness. This could be the start of mainstream success for the 28-year-old.
According to Spotify and Music Metric Vaults, Smith has 10.6 million total plays on the streaming service and around 1.7 million monthly listeners.
As an artist who released his first EP in 2023 he is well on his way to being a house hold name – the sold out O2 Forum concert could just be the start for Smith as his career can still take him to new heights.
Featured image by Sylvie Guild