Hemlocke Springs – The Apple Tree Under the Sea – Released 2/13/26
insta: @hemlockesprings
Hemlocke Springs is an electronic, synth pop singer, producer and songwriter from North Carolina. She has previously released a few singles and an EP but just recently has dropped her debut album, “The Apple Tree Under the Sea”. Categorized as a mix of bedroom pop, alternative pop and synth pop, Hemlocke manufactures a signature sound with this album. After my first listen, I was pleasantly surprised; I didn’t feel as if any song was out of place (my biggest pet peeve with music), or got bored at any point throughout.
A few of the tracks had been released previously as singles, but the one that stood out to me the most was “Sever the Blight”. This song made me the most excited for the album due to it being, in my opinion, one of the best songs ever created. Her vocals are incredibly unique, unlike any I’ve ever heard, and she creates beautiful build ups–with both her voice and the beat. This song causes you to truly feel what she is saying, from her removing the beat behind certain sections highlighting her vocals, to the heavy drums and synths.
Some other highs of the album for me were the tracks “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Ankles”, “Sense (is)” and “be the girl!”. These 3 tracks all shine through in their own different ways, but really encapsulate the album as a whole. The melody and lyricism of “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Ankles” is very fast and intense, with a fun fast paced distorted piano in the background. Around the 2 minute mark it then has a beat shift, into more raw vocals over a raw piano. This song shows how Hemlocke isn’t scared to just have fun with her music.
“Sense (is)”, is what I would consider the best non-single on the album. With a catchy chorus that gets stuck in your head–and the signature synths–it is an amazing track. This song follows the “Sense is (prelude)” on the album, building up to this climactic moment. Her lyrics delve into different themes of ambition and fame, reflecting on her challenges within the music industry. Through her bright melodies and pristine vocals she captures her willingness to accept the path she is taking in the industry, regardless of what is getting in her way.
The final notable song is the outro of the album, “Be the Girl!”. This song is the perfect way to end the album off, starting slow and having a dramatic build to represent her breaking free from previous constraints. It finishes the concept piece with a theatrical farewell, causing a form of bittersweet euphoria within the listener. A lyric that encapsulates the song the best is: “I can’t be the girl I used to know”, which highlights her journey of self recovery.
“The Apple Tree Under the Sea” is a beautiful and cohesive concept album, flowing through the struggles of self discovery, confronting past chaos and repression, inner transformation, and unpacking traumatic memories that hinder self acceptance. It is fun and captivating, yet also covers serious topics. Through this piece, Hemlocke made me think deeply and truly feel the emotions she was feeling, submerging me into it and holding my interest. Some songs are weaker than others, but nothing takes away from or interrupts the flow of the album. I would rank this album a ⅘ , and would highly recommend giving it a listen. If you are unsure if it will be your vibe, give one of the 4 most notable ones I pointed out a try, and then decide.
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