Under her artist alias Ethel Cain, Hayden Silas Anhedönia has, in just a few years, made a name for herself as a deeply personal storyteller, a raw singer, and an artist who does not compromise her own vision.
Her debut album from 2022, Preacher’s Daughter, became a genuine cult hit, acclaimed by both critics and a dedicated fan base who were captivated by her ability to unfold raw and melancholic stories about growing up as a trans woman in a deeply religious environment. These stories were told through the autobiographical persona Ethel Cain and delivered through an aesthetic that drew on southern gothic songwriting, atmospheric ambient, and shoegazer-sounding dream pop. The album made several lists of the best albums of 2022 and created an alluring aura around the enigmatic persona.
The following year, Cain gave her first Danish concert at the Roskilde Festival, and since then, more and more people have discovered Cain's unique universe, which has also made her a central voice in the queer and trans community. Rolling Stone included the song "American Teenager" on their list of "The 50 Most Inspirational LGBTQ Songs of All Time."
While her popularity was steadily rising in popular culture, in early 2025 Cain released the radically challenging and experimental work Perverts, showing that she is no pleaser. However, she returned to beautiful, captivating, and personal songs on the ambitious album Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You. The album has already received excellent reviews from several sources. The same goes for her subsequent poignant concerts. "A mesmerizing, slow-burn spectacle," wrote The Guardian in a glowing review of a recent concert in England. There is every reason to look forward to her bringing her atmospheric universe back to Roskilde Festival this summer.
