(Photo courtesy of Little Scream’s Facebook Page)
Laurel Sprengelmeyer, better known by her stage name Little Scream, is set to be the next indie darling. Sprengelmeyer get her start in the music industry by working as a backing vocalist on The Nationalโs 2008 album High Violet. Her debut album, 2011โs The Golden Record, received a rating of 8.1 from the notoriously critical Pitchfork, and was on the longlist for Canadaโs Polaris Prize. The Golden Record saw collaborations from Arcade Fireโs Richard Reed Parry, who co-produced the record, as well as his bandmate Sarah Neufeld, The Nationalโs Aaron Dessner, and Silver Mt. Zionโs Rebecca Foon.
ย ย Five years later, Little Scream is signed to Merge Records (Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, Conor Oberst) and managed by Zeitgeist (Death Cab for Cutie, Best Coast). Having just come off tour with fellow Zeitgeist act Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Sprengelmeyer is preparing to release Little Screamโs sophomore album, Cult Following, on May 6. Cult Following will see Sprengelmeyer working with even more celebrity collaborations.
ย ย The 12-track album will include appearances from Sufjan Stevens, Aaron and Bryce Dessner (The National), Owen Pallett (Arcade Fire, Final Fantasy), Sharon Van Etten, Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio), and Mary Margaret Oโ Hara. Richard Reed Parry is once again credited on the album, this time as Sprengelmeyerโs โcreative partnerโ.
Despite these all-star guest appearances, Sprengelmeyer holds her own where it matters most: her music. Cult Following has seen four singles so far leading up to itโs release next week, and each single explores a different side to Sprengelmeyerโs blend of top 40 pop and her roots in the experimental/art rock world. First single โLove as a Weaponโ occupies a space between Ingrid Michaelson and St. Vincent, with a vocal melody and beat so simple and infectious that itโs impossible not to get into it.
โSomeone Will Noticeโ is a lush track in the vein of Broken Social Scene that was inspired by Amanda Todd and the many other victims of depression and bullying. โThe Kissingโ features Kyp Maloneโs guest appearance as well as waves of guitar riffs.ย The fourth and latest single โDark Danceโ is a glistening effort that manages to marry the pop sensibility of โLove as a Weaponโ with the lo-fi vibe of โSomeone Will Noticeโ. The big names attached to Cult Following and Little Scream will give Sprengelmeyerโs project the attention it deserves, but her achievements and talent are enough to turn her into the next mainstream crossover.
Little Screamโs next album, Cult Following, will be released on May 6. Check out the leading singles from Cult Following and her debut album The Golden Record below!