Emily Malia
Journalist based in Derby – for the time being. Interests include: anything Taylor Swift makes, Richard Curtis films and fashion that involves dressing like a witch or Alexa Chung circa 2012.
Following his massive year, The Dare proves he’s much more than his Charli XCX collaborations as he brings his dance party to London
From ‘L. A to New York, New York to L.A.’ and now London, The Dare, also known as Harrison Smith, brought his dynamic performance and pulsating beats to the walls of the Electric Ballroom. Thanks to his collaboration with Charli XCX (and later Billie Eilish) on the hit track ‘Guess’, he’s been gaining recognition as the new leader of the ‘indie sleaze’ revival. And, judging by the turnout, it’s clear that word has spread—there’s so much more to enjoy from The Dare than just his production on ‘Brat’.
Much like Charli XCX, the New York-based artist delivers a mix of cheeky, provocative lyrics, killer bass drops, and head-banging beats. Add his signature look—black suit, black tie, and black sunglasses—and you’ve got the ultimate formula for a 21st-century rockstar. With his effortlessly cool, rock ‘n’ roll attitude, DJ setup, and captivating one-man showmanship, he created not just a gig, but an unforgettable party that kept the crowd buzzing from start to finish.
The Dare delivered what I can only describe as a flawlessly curated set, with every moment crafted to keep you hooked, yet peppered with a few slightly slower tracks that gave you just enough time to catch your breath between wild bursts of energy. If anything, it felt less like a gig and more like a club night, with the live electronic sounds packing an even more powerful punch than the recordings on the album. Taking us on a journey through his debut record ‘What’s Wrong With New York?’, Smith’s stage presence was so commanding that it left me wondering: ‘How the hell was this guy ever a school teacher?’
Stepping onto the stage bathed in bright white light, the singer kicked things off with the iconic line, ‘It’s just rock and roll, you won’t die, you can’t spend your whole life inside’ from the perfect opener ‘Open Up’. Next came ‘Good Time’, a track that practically demanded the crowd to let loose and surrender to the energy. And the fun just kept on coming, with ‘I Destroyed Disco’, as it delivered another crowd-pleasing line that could easily be printed on a T-shirt: ’ What’s a blogger to a rockstar, what’s a rockstar to The Dare?’
A standout moment came when the dancing stopped for the cinematic track ‘Elevation’, which feels reminiscent of a 2000 movie soundtrack. The audience was still as he held the room captive. Just one song later the star effortlessly strolled offstage as the harsh white lights flickered back on, illuminating the crowd. Nobody was quite sure if that was it or not – but no goodbyes said and no sign of his biggest song ‘Girls’ made people stand and wait.
Unsurprisingly, The Dare made his return to the stage, giving the fans exactly what they came for: that was, of course, ‘Girls’. As the first notes hit, the room erupted into a frenzy, with bodies jumping and dancing in perfect harmony to the infectious beat. The crowd roared as he delivered the now-viral line, ‘I like the girls that do drugs’, which has been circulating on TikTok all summer. Every person in the venue was singing along, shouting the lyrics back to him. The energy in the room became just as much a part of the performance as the music itself, as The Dare effortlessly redefined the rockstar image—embracing the chaos and never taking himself too seriously.
Listen to ‘What’s Wrong With New York?’ here: