SOFTCULT
Share new single ‘Dress’
Premiered via BBC R1’s Dan P Carter
TW: Sexual Assault
Announce UK/EU Tour for April 2023
Tickets on-sale now
New EP See You In The DarkOut 24th March via Easy Life Records
Pre-order HERE
Canadian twin siblings Mercedes (she/her) and Phoenix (they/them) Arn-Horn have a superpower. Through their lush-grunge project Softcult, the duo tackles some of life’s heaviest subject matters head-on, and their latest single ‘Dress’ is no different. It’s the darkest song on their upcoming EP see you in the dark out 24th March (pre-save here), and for good reason.
“This song is about consent; it’s about saying ‘no’ and having it happen to you anyway,” Mercedes explains. “It’s about being followed while walking alone at night or being cornered in a bar when we’re just trying to have a night out with our friends. It’s about the lingering fear and trauma that haunts us long after these experiences have happened. It’s about how these experiences make us feel powerless and change the way we see ourselves.”
“I’ll never be the same again, I’ll never feel the same again.”
The dichotomy between the song’s heavy subject matter and its upbeat instrumentals is purposeful, alerting abusers to the result of their actions but also signalling to anyone listening with similar trauma that they’re not alone.
Starring Sam Bielanski (PONY), the video for ‘Dress’ was directed/produced/edited by Mercedes, and depicts a very real scenario that will resonate with far too many viewers.
New EP See You In The Dark out next year and the title is inspired by Nietzsche’s famous quote: “Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”.
“It is an analogy for the things we’re afraid to face. It represents confronting our innermost fears, usually in those vulnerable moments lying awake at night when our minds are racing. It’s sort of an acknowledgement of our darkness, and the darkness of others, like “hey, I see you”, Mercedes says.
“While it’s important to acknowledge our darkness, we also can’t submit to it. We have to strive to be better people, and leave behind a legacy of positive change. I think it’s important to do everything we can to try and make a positive impact on the world, even when that feels impossible. Because if we don’t at least try, who will?”
Seamlessly combining grunge, shoegaze, dream-pop, and punk, Canadian duo Softcult has quickly become leaders of a new Riot Grrrl movement for the digital age.
Born in the studio, they are building their own universe around their music with a message. With Phoenix running point on production, engineering, and artwork, Mercedes directing/editing their videos, and both writing astoundingly intimate lyrics about self-empowerment amidst social, political, and environmental collapse, the duo is about as DIY as it gets. They even create and produce their own zine called SCripture, currently on Vol. 24, and are active participants in their Softcult Discord server, a safe online community for their fans as recently spotlighted by Alt Press.
Over the course of the last two years, Softcult have released several EPs, garnering acclaim and buzz both in their home country of Canada and across the globe as well. They’ve been championed by artists like Hayley Williams and Oli Sykes, and have been highlighted as a band to watch by Alternative Press, Kerrang!, The Gay Times, DIY, The Line Of Best Fit, and more.
They also announce their return to the UK/EU this April to be supported by Swim School on selected dates. Tickets are on sale now here.
See You In The Darkout 24th March 2023 via Easy Life RecordsPre-order HERE
US/CAN/UK/EU Tour Dates
Friday, March 03, 2023 Boston, MA Red Room~Saturday, March 04, 2023 Hamden, CT Space Ballroom~Sunday, March 05, 2023 New York, NY Mercury Lounge~Tuesday, March 07, 2023 Philadelphia, PA The Foundry~Wednesday, March 08, 2023 Baltimore, MD Ottobar~Friday, March 10, 2023 Cleveland, OH Mahall’s~Saturday, March 11, 2023 Columbus, OH Rumba Cafe~Sunday, March 12, 2023 Nashville, TN The End~Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Memphis, TN Growlers~Tuesday, March 21, 2023 Dallas, TX Club Dada~Wednesday, March 22, 2023 Oklahoma City, OK Beer City Music Hall~Thursday, March 23, 2023 St. Louis, MO Blueberry Hill Duck Room~Friday, March 24, 2023 Chicago, IL Cobra Lounge~
~(with Soft Blue Shimmer as support)
Friday, March 31 Toronto, ON The Drake Underground+
+(with PONY as support)
Sat 8 Apr 2023 United Kingdom Glasgow Stereo*Sun 9 Apr 2023 United Kingdom Manchester YESMon 10 Apr 2023 United Kingdom Nottingham The BodegaTue 11 Apr 2023 United Kingdom Brighton Prince AlbertThu 13 Apr 2023 United Kingdom Cardiff Clwb Ifor BachFri 14 Apr 2023 United Kingdom London OmearaSat 15 Apr 2023 Netherlands Rotterdam Motel MozaiqueMon 17 Apr 2023 Germany Cologne Blue ShellTue 18 Apr 2023 Germany Hamburg TurmzimmerWed 19 Apr 2023 Belgium Antwerp Trix*Thu 20 Apr 2023 France Paris Supersonic*
*(no swim school)
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My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago and married my childhood sweetheart and life is good.
