Softcult

An energetic pair hailing from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, Softcult channels the sonic and visual spirit of the grunge and riot grrrl movements that defined the 1990s. Listeners have embraced the group through consistent EP releases and standout tracks such as “Spit It Out” and “Drain.”

Twin sisters Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn, both classically trained on voice, piano, and guitar, launched Softcult. The siblings first gained attention in 2009 at the core of the pop-punk group Courage My Love. During their ten years as a unit, the outfit generated significant attention and received a Juno Award nomination for Breakthrough Group of the Year in 2014, yet mounting frustrations with their label prompted them to pause the project in 2020. Phoenix and Mercedes remained committed to collaborating and looked to Nirvana, Bikini Kill, and My Bloody Valentine for inspiration, merging grunge, riot grrrl, and shoegaze elements evenly. They extended this vision beyond recordings by issuing their own 'zine, which updated supporters on band activities and social topics the sisters championed.

Softcult quickly filled the gap left by Courage My Love, issuing their first single “Another Bish” alongside the EP Year of the Rat in 2021. The follow-up Year of the Snake arrived in 2022, led by the singles “Spit It Out” and “Uzumaki,” two of the duo’s most widely streamed recordings. After expanding their lineup with lead guitarist Brent McSwiggen and bassist Oliver Burdett (who departed in 2023 and was succeeded by Phil Hirst), the band issued covers of two Nirvana songs—“Been a Son” and “Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle”—before completing their third EP, See You in the Dark, which earned a Juno Award nomination for Alternative Album of the Year in 2023. Their fourth EP, Heaven, appeared in 2024.