New Music: The Dare – “Cheeky”: Indie-Sleaze Maverick Unleashes Deluxe Anthem

The Dare is the solo project of Harrison Patrick Smith, a Los Angeles-born, Seattle-raised musician now based in New York City. Formerly known for his work under the name Turtlenecked, Smith reinvented himself in 2022 with a new sonic direction that fuses electroclash, dance-punk, and indie sleaze with a distinctly nostalgic edge. His music is loud, glossy, ironic, and irresistible—drawing inspiration from early-2000s NYC club culture and acts like LCD Soundsystem and The Rapture.

He gained wide attention with viral tracks like “Girls” and “Good Time”, which led to the release of his 2024 debut album What’s Wrong with New York?. Smith has since collaborated with major artists like Charli XCX, toured with her across North America, and played high-profile festivals including Coachella and Primavera Sound. His sound and persona tap into an era of reckless fun and downtown cool, delivered with a postmodern wink.

“Cheeky” is part of the deluxe edition What’s Wrong With New York?: Afters, which extends the themes and energy of the original album. The track is a swaggering, synth-heavy anthem that balances irony and sincerity in classic Dare fashion. With its dancefloor-ready rhythm, glammed-up vocals, and tongue-in-cheek confidence, “Cheeky” lives up to its name—provocative, playful, and packed with attitude. It channels the pulse of a warehouse party at 2 a.m., somewhere between flirtation and full-blown chaos.

The single dropped alongside two other tracks—“LCA” and a moody cover of The Sound’s “I Can’t Escape Myself”—rounding out the deluxe as a playful, late-night encore to the main album.

Band Page: https://www.instagram.com/itsthedare/