A Breakup Only Made Boy Harsher Stronger

Boy Harsher, the darkwave duo known for melding brooding synths with danceable rhythms, has emerged from a turbulent period with their first studio album in seven years, Get Mean. This release marks a significant milestone as their debut on Atlantic Records and a testament to the enduring creative partnership between Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller despite profound personal challenges.

The journey to Get Mean was far from straightforward. In 2024, Matthews and Muller, who had been both romantic and musical collaborators since founding Boy Harsher in 2013, experienced a breakup that threatened the future of the band. Matthews, seeking refuge from the uncertainty, retreated to a rural barn in Marfa, Texas, where she grappled with whether to continue the project. Alongside the breakup, Matthews faced the loss of her mother and began ketamine therapy, compounding a year marked by upheaval.

Despite these hardships, Matthews recognized Boy Harsher as a consistent anchor amid chaos. She and Muller acknowledged the rare creative chemistry they shared, which ultimately motivated them to persevere with the band. Their renewed commitment laid the foundation for the development of Get Mean.

The recording process was characterized by intensive collaboration. Muller would generate instrumental sketches—typically synth-driven tracks with bass and percussion elements—and send them to Matthews, who responded by experimenting with vocalizations and melodies. Her approach to vocals is intentionally untrained and intuitive, prioritizing mood and texture over classical technique. This iterative back-and-forth allowed them to refine compositions organically, with Matthews drawing lyrical inspiration from personal journals kept during the difficult year of 2024.

Musically, Get Mean explores new sonic territories for Boy Harsher. The album features a richer palette, including the integration of live guitar recordings—a departure from their usual reliance on synthetic textures. Vintage analog synthesizers also played a prominent role, thanks to sessions at Syntaur in New Braunfels, Texas, where the duo had access to an extensive collection of gear. This expanded instrumentation contributed to a fuller, more nuanced sound that balances their signature darkwave aesthetic with moments of brightness and dancefloor energy.

Critically, Get Mean has been met with positive reception. The album garnered a favorable review on Pitchfork and was celebrated at its release party in New York City, signaling the duo's successful reentry into the public eye. Their accompanying tour has seen strong ticket sales, underscoring the sustained enthusiasm from fans and the music community.

Parallel to their musical endeavors, Matthews and Muller have ventured into filmmaking. Their first feature, The Lonely Woman, starring Chloë Sevigny and FKA Twigs, is in post-production with plans for release forthcoming. This project, a continuation of characters introduced in their earlier short film The Runner, illustrates their multidisciplinary artistic ambitions. While details remain limited, the film has been described as a dark, atmospheric horror-thriller, resonating with the eerie sensibilities present in their music.

Balancing these multiple creative outlets alongside personal healing has been a formidable task. Both artists have acknowledged the difficulty in embracing success after such trials, reflecting on the complex interplay between artistic fulfillment and self-doubt. Nonetheless, their resolve to continue evolving Boy Harsher’s sound and vision remains strong.

Looking ahead, Matthews and Muller plan to sustain their momentum through touring and hope to return to the studio with fresh ideas. Despite the constraints on their time, their experience with Get Mean and their film project has reinforced their commitment to pushing creative boundaries. Boy Harsher’s resurgence illustrates how resilience and artistic synergy can transform adversity into compelling new work.