Softcult is a Canadian grunge duo consisting of twin siblings Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn. The duo is known for their melding of grunge with shoegaze, as well as their DIY and riot grrrl-inspired ethics.
The band’s most recent EP, See You in the Dark, was released on March 24, 2023.
They are set to play Rock The Coliseum on August 5 at Celebration Square in Mississauga, ON.
Listen to See You in the Dark below and learn more about Softcult via our Rock The Coliseum Performer Interview.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Mercedes: Hi! We’re Softcult. We’re a “riot gaze” band, incorporating riot grrrl feminism, activism, grunge, dream-pop, and shoe gaze into our music.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
We just recently released our third EP: “See You In The Dark”. We wrote the EP about a variety of social and political issues that we’re very passionate about, from the climate crisis, corporate greed, asking for consent, the toxicity of incel culture, to mental health. There is an underlying overall theme, though, which is the concept of accountability. Not only holding ourselves and other individuals accountable of our choices and actions, but corporations, governments, and institutions. We wanted to write an EP about shifting our collective mentality towards progress. It will take all of us to change our society and our world for the better, and change starts from within. We all have to strive to be better. We can’t waste time worrying about judgement or how we’ll be perceived.
You’re set to play Rock The Coliseum in Mississauga. Have you played at this festival before?
We’ve never played Rock The Coliseum before in Softcult. Our old band played the online version of the festival during covid times, but we’ve never actually been to the festival and performed in the flesh before, so we’re really excited to be a part of it this year.
For someone who has yet to see you perform live, describe your performance in 5 words or less.
Crying Euphoric Wall Of Sound
With an incredible Canadian lineup, who are you hoping to check out during the fest?
I can’t wait to see Sumo Cyco tear it up like they always do. They put on an incredible show every time, and I know the pit will be moving.
What’s your favourite thing about being a musician in Ontario?
Playing close to home is nice because my mom and dad always like to come out to our shows whenever they can. Being eligible to apply for the Factor grant to help with tours and releases is nice too.
Do you have any other festivals or shows to tell us about?
We’re going on tour across the USA with Movements, Mannequin Pussy, and Heart To Gold in September, and we can’t wait!
What’s up next for you in 2023?
We’ve been writing and recording our next EP over the summer and we’ll be releasing new music very soon. After we go on tour in the fall we’ll be focussing on the rollout of our next EP and some more headline tours.