Little by little, the indie sleaze style that dominated NYC in the early 2000s, defined by disco balls, hedonistic maturity, cigarettes, drugs, and good music, has been making a comeback. But never before has the style been so clearly evoked on producer and songwriter Harrison Patrick Smith’s new EP, The Sex EP. FKA Turtlenecked, Smith now goes by The Dare, selling out DJ sets in NYC and LA while ushering in a revival of indie sleaze, complete with a suit and tie appearance that makes him look like the delinquent nephew to one of the Pet Shop Boys. Though more comparable to James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem fame in humor, the modern sensibilities of his songs prove there’s reason to bring back the synthesizers, arpeggiators, and turntables for some horny dance music.
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Not wasting any time, “Girls” finds Smith listing what he considers his type (spoiler: just about every type of girl). While not breaking any new ground stylistically or lyrically —similar tracks from years past include Calvin Harris’ “The Girls” and LCD Soundsystem’s “Drunk Girls”— the straightforward approach gives the song both replay value and an infectious enjoyment for debauchery thanks to the ray gun chord and comical rhymes.
The title track, “Sex,” moves up in the 2000s and takes inspiration from bloghouse, showing more sonic variation around the arpeggio but more or less following the same formula “Girls” established. Rather than simply listing the pros of sex, though, he somewhat admits his faults, whether it be finishing too quickly or lying about his experience. It’s also just as amusing, with lines like “I want to call your mom, and tell her you’re the bomb / I might even see if she’s into it.”
“Bloodwork” is the most venturous and longest of the four, offering a glimpse into the kind of music Smith can create. The first two minutes sound like you’re entering the basement underneath the club, moving into a techno beat by way of another earworm arpeggio. Smith also doesn’t speak at all, letting the dissipating drums do most of the talking as if scoring for the next John Wick movie.
When looking at the tracklist, there’s a surprisingly clear throughline tracking the pursuit of sex and where it ends up. The songs might not take themselves seriously, but the lyrics are honest. “I just wanted to write something funny and true about my relationship to sex,” said Smith. “It’s also the most time honored and classic theme of rock and roll, so I had to do it. The other, less horny songs are coming later.”
Although a common theme in music, sex as a topic might earn an eye roll at best if not handled correctly. Using electronic styles from the 2000s, Smith knows exactly what kind of music he’s making and embraces it for all its promiscuous attitudes. That alone makes him among the most promising breakout artists this year.
Words: David Sosa
The Sex EP by The Dare is out on all streaming services. Catch The Dare live and on tour, including two sold-out shows at El Cid and a spot at the FWB Fest in Idyllwild. For more on new music and future shows, follow The Dare on Instagram and TikTok.
THE DARE LIVE DATES
May 19—New York, NY—Manhattan Artspace—SOLD OUT
May 20—Brooklyn, NY—Baby’s All Right—SOLD OUT
June 8—Los Angeles, CA—El Cid—SOLD OUT
June 9—Los Angeles, CA—El Cid—SOLD OUT
August 4-6—Idyllwild, CA—FWB Fest
September 30—San Francisco, CA—Portola
