Cult Following

Sprengelmeyer's own experiences influenced the direction of Cult Following as she "'grew up in a kind of Christian religious cult' as a Jehovah’s Witness" as well as her visit to a "cult-like group in Brazil". [8] [9] In an interview with Exclaim, Sprengelmeyer described her album as her attempt at making Purple Rain if it was "done by a Midwestern girl with more of a folk upbringing". Although unused on the final cut of the album, three of the songs were mixed by Prince's longtime collaborator, David Z. at Sunset Sound Recorders where Purple Rain was mixed.[10]

On the song "Love as a Weapon", Sprengelmeyer says “I was thinking of classic pop songs, how a good one can lift you out of a fog like nothing else. This is a song of rebellious joy, for dancing and crying and starting over, again and again.”[11]

The album features Sufjan Stevens, Sharon Van Etten, Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner (of The National), Owen Pallett, Kyp Malone (of TV on the Radio), and Mary Margaret O'Hara.[12] Many of the album's collaborations came about through friendships and previous collaborations. Regarding her collaboration with O'Hara, Sprengelmeyer remarked that she was the only person she "really reached out to as a fan".[13]

Richard Reed Parry, of the band Arcade Fire, is credited as Little Scream's creative partner and helped with the music on the album.[12]

The first single, "Love as a Weapon," premiered on February 10, 2016 on Beats 1 Radio with Zane Lowe. The music video for the single premiered on March 22, 2016.[11][12]

The song "Someone Will Notice" premiered on April 5, 2016.[14] "The Kissing", featuring Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio, was released as a third pre-release single on April 12, 2016.[15]