Twin Sister Rock Duo Softcult Share New Video For “Perfect Blue”

With their forthcoming EP Year of the Snake on the way – the follow-up to this year’s Year of the Rat – indie rock duo Softcult have shared the latest single and music video for “Perfect Blue”. Composed of twin sisters Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn, the pair turn their Riot Grrrl inspirations into introspective alt-rock on their latest effort, bringing in influences of shoegaze alongside.

“We wrote ‘Perfect Blue’ about a time in our lives when we felt like nothing was in our control,” explains Mercedes. “In our previous project, we were signed to a label that butted heads with us creatively and wasn’t allowing us to express ourselves authentically. They weren’t interested in the music we were creating at the time, so we became unhealthily obsessed with trying to please them to release anything at all.” 

“It felt as though we were putting on an act to survive,” adds Phoenix. “We didn’t feel like our art was representing us. There was a lot we wanted to say, but it was being stifled. We felt like we’d lost our integrity. The song is a reminder to empower yourself by standing up for what you believe in, or risk losing yourself altogether.” 

Set against a blue-lit backdrop, the music video for “Perfect Blue” is offset by a storyline and visuals inspired by the likes of directors including David Lynch, Gaspar Noe, and Dario Argento. It vividly captures the essence of emotions associated with a person shedding the skin of who or what others feel they should be, becoming true to themselves in the process, while incorporating the ’90s influences of their musicality.

“I wanted the viewer to feel like they are entering the mind of someone who is watching themselves transform, powerless to stop their metamorphosis”, says Mercedes, who produced and directs all of Softcult’s music videos. “I clearly remember times in my life when I felt pressure to become a version of myself that others wanted me to be, but that version wasn’t authentic to who I was. I felt like I was losing my integrity and my sense of self. I’d look at myself in the mirror and be disgusted at what I saw, unattached to who I had become. There’s a vibe of health anxiety, dysphoria, dissociation, a little horror element in there that I wanted to capture with the visuals. The skin peeling scenes are meant to elicit those feelings, like a snake shedding its skin.” 

Watch the music video here, and catch the band on tour in the UK in 2022 (dates below).

UK Tour dates: 

Thursday, February 17, 2022 Muthers Studio Birmingham, UK 

Friday, February 18, 2022 Crofters Bristol, UK 

Saturday, February 19, 2022 Heartbreakers Southampton, UK 

Sunday, February 20, 2022 The Key Club Leeds, UK 

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 The Garage (Attic Bar) Glasgow, UK 

Wednesday, February 23, 2022 The Deaf Institute Manchester, UK 

Thursday, February 24, 2022 Camden Assembly London, UK

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