Constant Follower is the alias of songwriter Stephen McAll, whose instantly compelling and moving debut album, the Kramer co-produced, Neither is Nor Ever Was (Shimmy Disc), was shortlisted for the SAY Award (Scottish Album of the Year) in 2022. Turn Around For Me is his new single. Available from May 9, 2024, the track was co-produced and mixed in Austin, Texas by Dan Duszynski, known for his work with Loma, Cross Records and Brian Eno.
Retaining the lyrical depth and intricate melodies Constant Follower is celebrated for, Turn Around For Me also features compelling hooks and an unexpected gentle rhythmic pulse packed into its 2.30mins running time. This combination is compulsively addictive, ensuring the song will remain on repeat. With echoes of icons The Go-Betweens and The National, Constant Follower crafts a sound that’s equally suited to the bright start of morning radio or the reflective hours of late-night listening. In addition to the digital release, an exclusive 7” vinyl version is available only on Bandcamp, featuring the amazing AA-side See You Soon.
The single is accompanied by a stunning stop animation video by Japanese animator Tsumugi Yagi, whom they’ve worked with before for Space Between Stars, whose video was premiered here. 

What Stephen McAll says: “It was an honour to work with Dan Duszynski at his ranch studio in Dripping Springs, Texas. His work as Loma and Cross Record inspired a lot of the production on my last album. And to stay out in the middle of nowhere in the Texas Hill Country for a month while we worked was quite the experience. I slept in an old RV nestled amongst pecan trees and would be woken in the night by the coyotes. I’d go for night walks to try and spot them, but all I’d see were the sparkling eyes of countless spiders watching me from the grass. We’d spend long days in the studio mixing what I’d recorded in Stirling, adding magical touches. This track won’t be on the album. I felt like it needed its own space, and a 7″ provides just that.“

About the cover, artist Peter Russell says: “I collect newspaper photographs to act as sources, but always rearranged. In this case an image of Search and Rescue operatives loading casualties into a helicopter was too raw, and was torn in strips to alter the graphic forms. This was glued onto a prepared page, with trails of glue to resist the overveiling inks which were freely washed. Whether the work can be adjudged finished is not the point. As a sketchbook work it might have, and may still develop.”

Yagi manages to choreograph a dance with movements that are incredibly lifelike and natural. Also, the use of a shallow depth of field and muted colours gives the video an almost theatrical focus that accentuates the emotive depths of McAll’s delivery.

About the video, director TSumugi Yagi says: “‘Turn Around For Me’ captivates from the start as it opens directly with the song, instantly setting the scene for a narrative to unfold. This immediacy made me want to focus the video on a single character’s journey. I filmed the character dancing in a simple setting, creating a visual that harmonizes with Constant Follower’s evocative music, which wraps around the heart of the listener. The video is intentionally not dark, yet it has a sense of enclosure, aiming to capture the nuanced emotions of the protagonist’s inner world. The lyrics ‘Will you come back? Turn around for me’ are particularly striking. In the video, the main character waits for someone, feeling a mix of loneliness and confusion in their solitude. The imagery I chose complements Constant Follower’s serene melodies and soft vocals, which seem to comfort the protagonist throughout their reflective moments.”

Turn Around For Me is out now on all digital platforms, a 7” vinyl version is available on Golden Hum Recordings. Look HERE for more information on Constant Follower.