The Dare Basks in the Indulgent Sleaze of "Perfume" Ahead of Debut Album 'What's Wrong With New York'
Oh god, what is that smell? Oh, it smells like The Dare's latest single, "Perfume." The tune is uniquely punchy, driven by bold drums and bass, creating a distinctive and incredibly dynamic sound, making it a must-listen for any obsessing over indie sleaze's continued revival.
"Perfume" administers another dose of shameless sleaze. Over a pulsing beat and sparse twangs, The Dare, née Harrison Patrick Smith, opens up about his latest obsession. As synths and drum machine percussion patterns weave into the mix, he begins to make grandiose statements about the seductive qualities of his five-dollar fragrance in his characteristically superficial style. "It's $5.99," he brags, "I spray it in my mouth, and it tastes just divine." His words are just as self-indulgent as the synth work surrounding them, but they lean so far into their raunchy ridiculousness that they resist mockery.
The accompanying monochromatic music video places The Dare in the center of a faux perfume ad. Shots of him stalking around the empty white set and singing in front of stacks of Marshall speakers are interspersed with clips of shirtless models cradling his beloved perfume, "Le Dare." The visual only enhances the sleazy scent of "Perfume," reeking nostalgia and narcissism while upholding the continuous comparisons to LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy, which Smith has been subjected to since he first debuted with his viral track "Girls."
Alongside the single release, The Dare has announced that his debut album, What's Wrong With New York, will finally drop on September 6. In celebration of this highly anticipated release, the enigmatic artist will hit the road on his first headline tour of North America this fall.
Watch the "Perfume" video below:
