On February 13, 2026, hemlocke springs released her highly anticipated debut album, the apple tree under the sea, available via AWAL. Along with the release, Hemlocke also put out the music video for the track “be the girl!” Currently, she is preparing for a headline run across North America this spring and will even appear on major festival stages such as Bonnaroo and Governors Ball. Tickets will publicly go on sale on February 20 at 10 a.m. local time, with the pre-sale happening on February 17 at 10 a.m. local time. 

In its short life, the apple tree under the sea is already receiving tons of praise:

“pop escapism while also standing as a definitive artistic debut, blending the grandiosity of ABBA, the melodrama of Tears For Fears, and hemlocke springs’ own lyrical sophistication”—Stereogum

“Nostalgic and brimming with pop gems—but mostly, a lot of fun.”—DIY

“A DayGlo DIY triumph in an era of risk averse pop”—The Guardian, ????

With co-producer BURNS (Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Charli xcx), Hemlocke invites listeners to immerse themselves in her most adventurous work yet. Combining her playful vocals heard on her run of songs, including “w-w-w-w-w,” “head, shoulders, knees, and ankles,” and“the beginning of the end,” with her bold songcraft, she has crafted a debut album that will live as a critically praised piece of work. Described by FLOOD as “delirious and dizzying alt-pop,” and “medieval” by NYLON, this album showcases how hemlocke’s music has matured while keeping her expansive signature sound. Lead single“the beginning of the end,” was lauded by The Needle Drop as “one of her most wild, varied songs she’s ever done.” The success in this release only adds to a list of impressive achievements by hemlocke springs this last year, including recently playing dates with Chappell Roan and Conan Gray. 

Since her 2022 debut with her breakout song “girlfriend,” fans have been long anticipating this album. Her music has been growing support ever since then, with big names from Grimes to Steve Lacy supporting her work. Multi-time GRAMMY-winning artist Doechii even called hemlock “a rockstar.” With her debut album, hemlocke continues to build success and expand herself sonically. 

The apple tree under the sea is a uniquely crafted concept album in which the hero (hemlocke springs), embarks on a journey of self-discovery that requires her to confront past repression and chaos to claim the full liberatory of her life that she didn’t even know was possible. Tidbits about her Christian upbringing are sprinkled throughout the album, also alluding to her Nigerian immigrant parents. The project starts with her coming across an apple – a symbol of knowledge and “worldly” things, hemlocke explains. She then begins her transformation by unpacking traumatic memories and long-standing beliefs that held her back from reaching self-acceptance. 

Daring to create a fantastical world by combining personal tales with exuberant art-pop, hemlocke springs garnered a diverse fanbase full of people who are able to connect aspects of her ethereal music to their own lives. She resides in the faraway and magical land of Los Angeles, where she was crowned as a bedroom pop star in 2022, and quickly became one of Chappell Roan’s favorite artists. She has embarked on other tours with creative world-building artists like Doja Cat and Ashnikko. She saw her career take off while pursuing her master’s in health informatics, and in 2023 released her zany EP “going…going…GONE!,” which includes her medieval-sounding song “sever the blight.” NME dubbed the track “creativity of the highest order.” The apple tree under the sea” invites listeners into a world of imagination, and hemlocke springs encourages fans to prepare thyselves to be verily charmed in the next chapter. 

hemlocke springs—the apple tree under the sea

1. the red apple

2. the beginning of the end

3. head, shoulders, knees and ankles

4. w-w-w-w-w

5. moses

6. sever the blight

7. sense is (prelude)

8. sense(is)

9. set me free

10. be the girl!

TOUR DATES

May 15—Phoenix, AZ—Crescent Ballroom

May 16—San Diego, CA—Music Box

May 17—Santa Ana, CA—Observatory Orange County

May 19—Los Angeles, CA—El Rey Theatre

May 20—San Francisco, CA—The Fillmore

May 22—Portland, OR—Wonder Ballroom

May 23—Seattle, WA—The Showbox

May 26—Denver, CO—Bluebird Theater

May 29—Minneapolis, MN—Varsity Theater

May 30—Chicago, IL—Thalia Hall

May 31—Detroit, MI—Saint Andrew’s Hall

June 2—Toronto, ON—The Mod Club

June 4—Boston, MA—Paradise Rock Club – Music Hall

June 5—Philadelphia, PA—Union Transfer

June 7—Flushing, NY—The Governors Ball

June 9—Washington, DC—9:30 Club

June 10—Asbury Park, NJ—The Stone Pony

June 12—Charlotte, NC—The Underground

June 13—Atlanta, GA—Masquerade (Hell)

June 14—Manchester, TN—Bonnaroo Music Festival