Softcult / Soft Blue Shimmer

Twin sisters Phoenix (She/They) and Mercedes Arn-Horn (She/Her) have been making music together since they were barely teenagers. Cutting their teeth in the local scene of Kitchener, Ontario helped them find their feet but because it was dominated by blokes, they were often left feeling like the odd ones out. Later, when they started touring further afield, the pair were exposed to how “misogynistic the music industry really was”. Tired of biting their tongues, putting up with relentless sexism as well as realising they weren’t the only ones having to deal with it, Softcult sees the pair biting back. As their debut single promises, “something’s got to change”. The duo had been toying with the idea of Softcult for a long while but the pandemic finally gave them the time to focus on bringing that vision to life. Recording at home and produced by Phoenix, the band are able to capture what they hear in their heads without a middle-man diluting things while Mercedes has taken charge of their music videos. Wanting to rekindle their youthful love of music that saw them picking up guitars and drum sticks at age 13, Softcult is influenced by their childhood heroes Bikini Kill (“if Kathleen Hanna didn’t exist, Softcult wouldn’t either”), The Smashing Pumpkins, Deftones and My Bloody Valentine. Not interested in reviving the past, they also take inspiration from the badass bubble grunge of Beabadoobee, Cherry Glazer and Soccer Mommy as Softcult are a fiercely modern group working towards a better future. “There have been so many opportunities to grow over the past year,” says Mercedes. “If you’re not using this time to recognize your own privileges or the toxic parts of society, you’re really wasting an opportunity to come out of this experience having learned something.” Armed with a list of likes (ethical everything, creative freedom, social activism) and dislikes (the band won’t stand for sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, elitism or shitty band dudes preaching fake wokeness), Softcult are a group who know exactly who, and what, they stand for. Not only do Mercedes and Phoenix “want to be those inspiring role models for the next generation of girls” but they want to use Softcult to create a community that really is a safe space for everyone. Those lists will act as a manifesto “so when we tour and other people are involved, they know what we expect. We really do just want to be transparent with everyone that listens to our music” and the pair are eager to put the work in to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

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