SOFTCULT Release New Single ‘Queen Of Nothing’; Debut Album ‘When A Flower Doesn’t Grow’ Due Out 30th January 2026 Via Easy Life Records
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Following their hugely successful UK/EU headline tour, Ontario-based modern grunge sibling duo Softcult return today with their new single ‘Queen Of Nothing’, lifted from their forthcoming debut full-length album "When A Flower Doesn’t Grow", out 30th January 2026 via Easy Life Records.
‘Queen Of Nothing’ sees Softcult deliver one of their most direct statements to date, channeling their signature blend of grunge, shoegaze and alt-rock while broadening the emotional and thematic scope of their upcoming album. Lyrically, the track confronts the crushing weight of societal expectations placed on women, revealing how these pressures manifest on both personal and systemic levels.
Speaking about the new single, vocalist Mercedes Arn-Horn explains: “This song is about the double standards, harsh judgements, and unrealistic expectations that patriarchal society places on women. We’re expected to be sexy, but only as it applies to the male fantasy; somehow a virgin and a slut. We’re expected to constantly nurture the men in our lives, and shamed if our aspirations exceed becoming wives and mothers. The world demands maturity from us, but discards us when we’re old and “unfuckable”, our value reduced to our ability to attract men. And when we attract men, we’re labeled “whores”. We’re expected to be “cool” and “like one of the guys”, but not too abrasive, loud, or “unladylike.” Our intelligence and our success is tolerated so long as it isn’t too threatening or intimidating to our male counterparts. From unconscious biases to blatant sexism, misogyny and gender violence, women face an impossible amount of discrimination in the world today. And no matter the amount of vitriol or ignorance we endure, we’re still expected to smile".
Mercedes continues: “This song is about the realization that these cycles of abuse are bigger than our personal experiences. It’s recognizing the systemic nature of mistreatment and discrimination”.
On their powerful debut album "When A Flower Doesn’t Grow", Softcult – the Ontario-based sibling duo of Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn – deliver their most unflinching and transformative work to date. Written during a period of personal upheaval and self-discovery, the record traces a path through trauma, disillusionment, empowerment, and eventual liberation. The title itself comes from a quote that struck Mercedes at a pivotal moment: “When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.” That perspective threads through the album’s ten tracks, which explore cycles of oppression, abuse, and conformity, while championing the courage it takes to break free. “The truth is, nothing can thrive in an environment where it is stifled,” Mercedes reflects. “We can’t flourish in environments that are oppressive. We need the world around us to be an environment that encourages us to grow”.
Musically, Softcult continue to expand their rich blend of grunge, shoegaze, and alt-rock textures, weaving fuzz-laden riffs and dreamy soundscapes with raw, confessional lyricism. The result is both intimate and universal: a record for anyone who has ever felt trapped or diminished by their surroundings, and a rallying cry to nurture ourselves and each other in the pursuit of freedom and authenticity.
The album follows last year’s acclaimed "Heaven" EP, which flipped the concept of an afterlife on its head, critiquing a culture fixated on the future while ignoring the urgent need for change in the present. That release saw the duo land the cover of Spotify’s MARROW playlist (over 4.7 million followers) and embark on tours across North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Along the way they’ve won fans in artists like Hayley Williams and Bring Me The Horizon’s Oli Sykes, opened for Incubus and MUSE, and earned praise from outlets including Stereogum, BrooklynVegan, Paste, Consequence, Alternative Press, Kerrang!, CBC, The Gay Times and more.
Born in the studio and committed to carving out their own universe, Softcult embody a fiercely DIY ethos. Phoenix handles production, engineering, and artwork, while Mercedes writes, produces, directs, and edits their deeply personal and impactful videos. Together they create and distribute their monthly zine SCripture and remain deeply engaged with their community through the Softcult Discord server. Their music and message are constant reminders that the revolution is very much alive - proof that true liberation begins when we change the environment and allow ourselves, and each other, to grow.
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