Twin sisters Phoenix (She/They) and Mercedes Arn-Horn (She/Her) have been making musicĀ together since they were barely teenagers. Cutting their teeth in the local scene of Kitchener,Ā Ontario helped them find their feet but because it was dominated by blokes, they were often leftĀ feeling like the odd ones out. Later, when they started touring further afield, the pair wereĀ exposed to how āmisogynistic the music industry really wasā. Tired of biting their tongues,Ā putting up with relentless sexism as well as realizing they werenāt the only ones having to dealĀ with it, Softcult sees the pair biting back. As their debut single promises, āsomethingās got toĀ changeā.
The duo had been toying with the idea of Softcult for a long while but the pandemic finally gaveĀ them the time to focus on bringing that vision to life. Recording at home and produced byĀ Phoenix, the band are able to capture what they hear in their heads without a middle-manĀ diluting things while Mercedes has taken charge of their music videos.Ā
Wanting to rekindle their youthful love of music that saw them picking up guitars and drumsticksĀ at age 13, Softcult is influenced by their childhood heroes Bikini Kill (āif Kathleen Hanna didnātĀ exist, Softcult wouldnāt eitherā), The Smashing Pumpkins, Deftones, and My Bloody Valentine.Ā Not interested in reviving the past, they also take inspiration from the badass bubble grunge ofĀ Beabadoobee, Cherry Glazer, and Soccer Mommy as Softcult are a fiercely modern groupĀ working towards a better future.
