Boy Harsher is an American electronic / darkwave duo, formed in 2013, that … Read Full Bio ↴Boy Harsher is an American electronic / darkwave duo, formed in 2013, that produces gritty dance beats infused with ethereal vocals, creating a sound that is eerie, intense and incredibly danceable. Gus Muller of Reconss develops the underbelly of sound with minimal beats and grinding synths, where Jae Matthews whispers, screams and chants on top. Together, the music created is somewhere between dance, trance and confessional storytelling. Boy Harsher draws heavily from cinema, theatrics and graphic design to tailor the band's visual imagery; Matthews and Muller both have a background in filmmaking. They have likened the band to the movies Body Heat and Lost Highway, latter of which was directed by David Lynch, a professed influence on the band. Matthews has expressed appreciation for various female vocalists, including Nico, Circuit des Yeux, Alison Lewis of Linea Aspera, Chelsea Wolfe and Zola Jesus, whereas Muller named Sleep Chamber, Suicide, DAF and Yello as early musical influences on Boy Harsher.[4] Gearwise, Muller mostly employs synthesizers and samplers, stating that he "tries and borrows as much [instruments] as he can for recording."On the band's minimal instrumentation, he said: "I’m obsessed with how successful the minimalism is with 80s music. It’s really a masterclass of what can be done with a drum machine and a couple of synths. A "half-functioning" Roland Juno-106 was used extensively on Lesser Man EP; their live set features synth lines sampled into an Akai MPC, as well as backing tracks. The band has amassed a cult following since their formation.

A Realness
Boy Harsher Lyrics

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Who am I
Who am I
Clutching the wheel with both hands
I am learning how to drive
My heart is racing
Rising
It's how we survive
There's a realness

To the hands
That pull you away
There's a realness
To the voice
That asks you to stay
You're the door
That keeps closing
Keeps closing on me
I am the heart
Always broken
Broken by that sound
It is not enough
It is not enough
It's never enough
It is not enough
It is not enough
It's never enough
Please don't go
So let's drive
So let's drive
Watching the wind with both eyes
I am moving away
Clutching the wheel with both hands
I am running away

Please don't go
You'll never stay

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Boy Harsher’s song “A Realness” are cryptic and melancholic. The song seems to be about a person who is trying to learn how to drive and navigate their own life, while also feeling insecure and unsure of themselves. The repetition of “Who am I” throughout the song suggests that the singer is questioning their own identity and purpose. They are scared to take risks and move forward, but they know that they have to in order to survive.

The lines “There’s a realness to the hands that pull you away” and “There’s a realness to the voice that asks you to stay” could be interpreted in a few different ways. It may be about a relationship or a person who is influencing the singer’s decisions. The chorus “It is not enough, it’s never enough” is a statement of dissatisfaction and longing for something more.

The repetition of “Please don’t go, you’ll never stay” at the end of the song hints at someone leaving and the singer feeling abandoned. Overall, “A Realness” is a song about struggling to find yourself and your place in the world, feeling trapped by circumstances and relationships, and yearning for something more.

Line by Line Meaning

Who am I
Questioning one's own identity

Clutching the wheel with both hands
Trying to take control of one's own life

I am learning how to drive
Trying to navigate through life and gain independence

My heart is racing
Feeling anxious and overwhelmed

Rising
Facing challenges and overcoming them

It's how we survive
Persevering through difficulties to keep going

There's a realness To the hands That pull you away
Feeling the genuine impact of someone pushing you away

There's a realness To the voice That asks you to stay
Feeling the authenticity of someone urging you to stay

You're the door That keeps closing Keeps closing on me
Feeling repeatedly shut out and rejected

I am the heart Always broken Broken by that sound
Feeling emotionally wounded by rejection

It is not enough It is not enough It's never enough
Feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled