Ethel Cain

Hayden Silas Anhedönia (born March 24, 1998), known professionally as Ethel Cain, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and model.

Inspired by Christian music and Gregorian chants, with lyrics focused on nostalgic and Southern Gothic themes, her music has been associated with the ambient, indie rock, and folk genres.

Cain was born on March 24, 1998, in Tallahassee, Florida, and was raised in Perry.

She is the eldest of four children in a Southern Baptist family.

Her father was a deacon, and she was involved in the church choir from a young age, like her mother.

At age 8, Cain began studying classical piano, with musical influences from a variety of Christian music.

The church was Cain's first exposure to music: "My whole life was always singing, always, always music all the time", Cain said.

She left the church at the age of 16.

Cain was homeschooled her entire life.

Anhedönia officially started making music in 2017, experimenting with "dreamy bedroom pop demos."

She has released multiple extended plays (EPs) on streaming platforms under various aliases, before officially starting her main project in mid-2019.

In 2022, Cain released her debut studio album titled Preacher's Daughter, to widespread acclaim from music critics—many of whom called it one of the best albums of the year.

Following its release, she garnered a cult following online.

Her first extended play under the Ethel Cain moniker, Carpet Bed, consisting of four songs, was released on September 13, 2019.

Months later, she released her second extended play, Golden Age, on December 1.

After the latter's release, she was backed by artist Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, who praised Cain for her "mature songwriting and understanding of melody".

In January 2020, after recommendation from Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Cain was discovered by rapper Lil Aaron.

While headlining a show with Edith Underground, Girlfiend, and Lil Bo Weep in Los Angeles, Cain was invited by Aaron to meet with the publishing company Prescription Songs and signed with them soon after.

In February 2021, Anhedönia released her first single as Ethel Cain and under the new publishing contract, titled "Michelle Pfeiffer", featuring Lil Aaron.

The song was described by Billboard as alternative rock, folk, and "even country".

Her second single, "Crush", followed on March 18, and received a music video on August 3.

A stripped version of the song was also published.

The two singles were part of her third extended play titled Inbred, released on April 23.

The ambient-folk and slowcore EP, was named by Pitchfork as one of The 49 Most Anticipated Albums of Spring 2021, and received a score of 7.6 out of 10 by the online music magazine.

On March 8, 2022, she released a cover of the song "Everytime" by Britney Spears, as part of Spotify Singles, in observance of International Women's Day.

On March 17, 2022, Cain released the single "Gibson Girl", subsequently announcing her debut album titled Preacher's Daughter, released on May 12, 2022 through her own record label, Daughters of Cain.

A concept album that creates a narrative "centered around the character Ethel Cain", it received a positive reception from music critics, and was named one of the best albums of the year.

It was also preceded by the release of the singles "Strangers", on April 7, and "American Teenager", on April 21, the latter receiving a music video on July 21.

In support of the album, Cain embarked on the Freezer Bride Tour in 2022 and the Blood Stained Blonde Tour in 2023.

She was also an opening act at one concert of Florence and the Machine's Dance Fever Tour, and Caroline Polachek's Spiraling Tour.

Cain performed at the 22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023.

On June 3, 2023, Cain fainted on stage while performing at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia as part of Vivid Live, resulting in the show's cancellation.

She returned to performing the next day.

She also performed at Reading Festival and Gunnersbury Park with Boygenius and Muna in August 2023.

On December 5, 2023, Cain announced the Childish Behaviour Tour, an eight-show tour set to begin on June 3, 2024, and end on June 27, 2024.

After sharing the song on SoundCloud a year before, in 2023, she released "Famous Last Words (An Ode to Eaters)", inspired by Luca Guadagnino's film Bones and All, along with 1017 ALYX 9SM.

With a "darkly poignant" music video, it was included in the project's first compilation album.

Cain placed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 2024 for Music.

She will be opening for Mitski's 2024 concert tour in support of her album The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We (2023).

On February 14, 2024, during the Israel–Hamas War, she released a song titled "من النهر” (meaning "From the River"), which she described as a "prayer" for Palestinians.