When things get particularly chaotic and claustrophobic, fictional art can be a very potent escape hatch to make sense of it all, and ultimately discard it. East Coast synth-pop innovators Boy Harsher probably thought so as well, which is why the duo have shied away from the traditional album rollout. The Runner OST is an audiovisual project with music written by founders Augustus Muller and Jae Matthews for a self-directed horror short/meta-docu called The Runner.
Remote from the physicality of the club, and loads of other personal plights to deal with (Matthews was diagnosed with MS), emotions were unleashed much like the cabinet of mythical monsters on The Cabin in The Woods. On the sinister synth-pop of “Give Me A Reason” – the latest glimpse of The Runner OST – Matthews beckons for intimacy with a sinister, restrained whisper. It’s definitely not the kind of intimacy filtered through the rose-colored lens: there’s a hint of despair in which the passion is rooted.
For The Runner OST, Boy Harsher handpicked a bunch of guest performers to shape the songs. Cooper B. Handy – better known as LUCY, one of the most entertaining pop phenoms of this moment – is featured on “Autonomy”, whereas Mariana Saldaña of Boan is heard on “Machina”. More info on the album and the film – which is slated for release in January 2022 – can be found here.
Listen to “Give Me a Reason” below and watch the second trailer for The Runner OST.
For more updates and info, follow Boy Harsher on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can catch live shows and screenings of the film on the following list of dates:
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 % *SOLD OUT*
Sun. Jan. 30, 2022 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg %
Thu. Feb. 3, 2022 – Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco Theater (+ film screening) % *SOLD OUT*
Fri. Feb. 4, 2022 – Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco Theater (+ film screening) % *SOLD OUT*
Sat. Feb. 5, 2022 – San Francisco, CA @ Gray Area % *SOLD OUT*
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
