SOFTCULT

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.
Despite knowing they wanted to inspire others to feel powerful, Softcult struggled to write a song
about female empowerment “until we realized, we’re females and we’re powerful so let’s just
write about ourselves.” It’s where ‘Another Bish’, the first song written for Softcult and their
debut single, came from. “It's a rallying cry to not put up with the sexism and misogyny that we
experience as women,” and despite its strength, the track maintains a certain vulnerability.

“Even the baddest bish probably has a little bit of self-doubt. It’s phony to act like this
unstoppable force 100% of the time,” says Phoenix as Mercedes adds “it's just more real to
admit that no one feels that way all the time.”
Other tracks across their two EP arsenal-in-waiting include ‘Young Forever’ which tackles the
inequalities and unfair expectations that society puts on women as they get older (“you feel like
you’re running out of time to settle down and start a family but why are those outdated ideas
even a thing” asks Mercedes). ‘Uzu Maki’ is about assault and the ongoing healing process that
follows trauma while ‘Gloomy Girl’ is about the emotional tax someone’s dwindling mental health
can take on the people closest to them.
The band has no interest in wasting time with radio-friendly breakup songs. “When you’re a
teenager, hopefully the biggest problem you face is some guy not liking you back but we’re 27
now, and we’ve both had experiences with sexual assault. There’s much more important topics
to write about and I wish someone had spoken up about them when I was younger,” says
Mercedes. “Maybe it would have helped us break the pattern of abusive relationships.”
Writing about their own experiences in such an honest, frank way does feel weird for them “but
more than anything, we just feel like it's stuff that should be talked about. Even if it's a hard
conversation to have, it's important to try” says Phoenix before Mercedes adds “We’re not
interested in sugarcoating anything, it's supposed to be uncomfortable. Your skin should crawl
when you listen to a song about rape.”
“It might seem like we're just super angry but it comes from a place of wanting to make positive
change, which always starts with a conversation,” continues Mercedes. “If we alienate people
because they feel uncomfortable, they don't get it or because they’d rather not think about it,
then they're probably not the right people for this band. Trying to make it palatable for everyone
was just not going to work.”
What Softcult really wants to do is “foster a community of like-minded individuals and make real
change from the roots of the scene up.” They’ve got bigger dreams than wanting to play certain
venues or getting songs on the radio. “This band is more about having a message, mobilizing
people and being the change that we want to see,” says Mercedes while Phoenix hopes the pair
“can do our part and know that we actually tried.”
Softcult is all about empowerment. After going through some rough times in her early twenties,
Mercedes wants to do all she can to make sure no one else has to put up with the same shit.
“No more being submissive,” she promises. “I refuse to stand by while abuse and sexism is so
prevalent. It’s important that we educate not just the people that could become victims or
survivors of the system of abuse, but that we also encourage people to hold their friends
accountable and empower people to call others out. I really just want to make a difference.
Hopefully our music inspires people to just not be assholes anymore.”