Boy Harsher Announce New Album, The Runner (Original Soundtrack)

Northampton-based electronic duo Boy Harsher (Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller) have announced the release of their new album, The Runner (Original Soundtrack) – out January 21st, 2022 via Nude Club/City Slang. In keeping with their historical film inspirations for both their sound and visuals, the daring darkwave musicians will not be releasing a traditional album, but rather the soundtrack to a short horror film written, produced, and directed by the duo. 

The movie and accompanying soundtrack were spurred on by the loneliness of the pandemic and Matthews’ multiple sclerosis diagnosis. 

Both the film and album open with “Tower”, an incantation rife with pulsing synths. “Tower” features Matthews at her most unsettling, with her deep alto lyrics insisting “You don’t want to know about me”. The track itself is a spell about desire and impending destruction and by the climax Matthews pleas transform into desperate screams. 

“We wrote ‘Tower’ several years ago and although it’s evolved over the years, its initial intent remains the same –  that feeling of being enveloped, suffocated, entrapped in a relationship, which in turn manifests into reckless attack,” explains Matthews. “What you love the most can make you into a monster. And that’s what this song is about, being a paralyzed fiend.”  

The soundtrack finds balance between cinematic instrumentals and pop elements juxtaposed with a strong sense of foreboding that pushes the boundaries of Boy Harsher’s sound. 

Listen to “Tower” below and keep scrolling for the complete details of The Runner. You can preorder the album ahead of its Jan. 21 release here.

The Runner (Original Soundtrack) Tracklist:

1. Tower

2. Give Me a Reason

3. Autonomy (Feat. Lucy – Cooper B. Handy)

4. The Ride Home

5. Escape

6. Machina (Feat. Ms. BOAN – Mariana Saldaña)

7. Untitled (Piano)

8. I Understand

Boy Harsher Tour Dates:

Wed. Oct 20, 2021 – Atlanta, GA @ 529 Club

Fri. Oct. 22, 2021 – Miami, FL @ III Points Festival

Thu. Oct. 28, 2021 – Austin, TX @ Levitation Festival *SOLD OUT* ^

Sat. Oct. 30, 2021 – Holyoke, MA @ Gateway City Arts *SOLD OUT* #

Sun. Oct. 31, 2021 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Made *SOLD OUT*

Thu. Dec. 30, 2021 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle *SOLD OUT*

 Fri. Dec. 31, 2021 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle *SOLD OUT*

Sat. Jan. 1, 2022 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle *SOLD OUT*

Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 – Boston, MA @ Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre %

Fri. Jan. 21, 2022 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer %

Sat. Jan. 22, 2022 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry %

Sun. Jan. 23, 2022 – Durham, NC @ Motorco %

Mon. Jan. 24, 2022 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle %

Tue. Jan. 25, 2022 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West %

Wed. Jan. 26, 2022 – Nashville, TN @ High Watt %

Fri. Jan. 28, 2022 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat %

Sat. Jan. 29, 2022 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg %

Sun. Jan. 30, 2022 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg %

Fri. Feb. 4, 2022 – Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco Theater (+ film screening) %

Sat. Feb. 5, 2022 – San Francisco, CA @ Gray Area %

Mon. Feb. 7, 2022 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom %

Tue. Feb. 8, 2022 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom %

Wed. Feb. 9, 2022 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre %

 Thu. Feb. 10, 2022 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile %

Fri. Feb. 11, 2022 – Olympia, WA @ Capitol Theater %

Mon. Feb. 14, 2022 – Paris, FR @ Cabaret Sauvage (+ film screening @ La Peniche Cinema) ^^

Tue. Feb. 15, 2022 – Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje (+ film screening  @ Lux Cinema) ^^

Wed. Feb. 16, 2022 – Leipzig, DE @ WERK2  (+ film screening @ UT Connewitz) ^^

Thu. Feb. 17, 2022 – Berlin, DE @ Astra (+ film screening  @ Intimes Kino ) ^^

Fri.  Feb. 18, 2022 – Frankfurt, DE @ Zoom ^^

Sat. Feb. 19, 2022 – Hasselt, BE @ Muziekodroom  (+ film screening @ Zed Cinema) ^^

Sun. Feb. 20, 2022 – London, UK @ Earth  (+ film screening  @ Rio Cinema) !

Sat. June 4, 2022 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound

^ = w/ Drab Majesty

# = w/ Lucy

% = w/ Hiro Kone

^^ = w/ Kris Baha

! =  w/ Helm

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