Alt-pop star Hemlocke Springs has the Chappell Roan stamp of approval

Pop music (thankfully) just got a little weirder.

Hemlocke Springs, the colorful alt-pop star originally from Concord, North Carolina, is the freshest face on the scene — and is delivering an eccentric, quirky vision that defies genre or expectations. She’s gone viral over and over again, released a game-changing EP that racked up tens of millions of streams. She’s also opened for Conan Gray’s Wishbone tour and, most recently, Chappell Roan’s Los Angeles pop-up shows: Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things.

Springs has also just announced her own holiday show in Los Angeles. The christmystical tree under the sea is “a very hemlocke holiday soirée” taking place at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater on December 3.

And all before the release of her debut album!

A few days after breaking up a fight during her Roan opening set, Out caught up with the star and discussed her conceptual new music, growing up Christian, being boxed in as an artist, and her relationship with the LGBTQ+ community.

Out: You’ve opened for two icons in the last few months: Chappell Roan and Conan Gray. What does that mean to you?
Hemlocke Springs: I guess it means I’ve opened for the Eric and the Ariel of pop music! In all seriousness though, it’s very rewarding to be thought of to join such wonderful artists! I say this all the time, but I’m a very lucky girl!

Forty thousand people were at the Chappell Roan pop-up’s first night. What did that energy feel like?
It was probably terrifyingly electric, but I definitely (maybe unfortunately) blacked out during most of the set! Personally, I can’t think about things too hard when I’m in the moment, if not, I’ll freeze up, so I kind of only remember getting on stage and then slipping into my crocs once I was off. Except the fight during the night one — I do and will remember that for a long time!

What went through your head when someone started fighting during your set?
“……Whew child!”

Although I think I actually said that in the microphone! On one hand, I was definitely freaking out on what to do, but on the other hand, I was a little bit confused. Y’all are fighting at a Chappell Roan concert? It’s supposed to be fun! I was also debating whether stopping the set was the best move on my part, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!

What’s your favorite song to perform live? Why?
Probably “train to nowhere,” because it’s at an easier key to sing. For those who don’t know, I like it when things are nice and easy. I hate when I have to belt and sing in higher keys, that can be rough. Unfortunately, almost all my songs have some sort of belt or are sung in a key higher than what I’m used to. I make the songs, so I don’t know why I do that to myself.

Any funny stories with Chappell or Conan you can share from either tour?
Conan came up to me during catering, and he was on vocal rest, and the first thing he asked was, “Do you know what abortion is in sign language?” Mind you, this was our second interaction ever! I had a whole conversation prepared in my head and with that question, everything went out the window [laughs].

What inspired your latest single, “heads, shoulders, knees and ankles”?
Basically, I was having this dream where I was watching this dude follow a girl, sort of angelic character, and then he started following me and grabbed my ankles and wouldn’t let go. And so I’m like, “Goddamn, you are one persistent fellow!” And then I’m asking the girl for help, and she’s not helping me!!

After further investigation, I believe the dream was some sort of metaphor. Both girls are probably myself, and Me Number 1 (the angelic character) is in no position to help Me Number 2, so Me Number 1 can only watch helplessly as Me Number 2 tries to shake off this person at my ankles. (It’s almost as if my future self is watching my present self go through the trials and tribulations that my future self had to go through.)

But here’s the thing: Dreams are quite literally…dreams. I don’t think I’ll ever have a definite answer! What if I’m interpreting nonsense — what if it was quite literally just a dream? Ironically, I guess I’ll never know, but at least I got a song out of it!

Your debut album, the apple tree under the sea, is set for a February release. What are you most excited about?
Dare I say the “release” part? When listening to other albums, I’ve never taken into consideration how much the artist must’ve listened to make sure everything sounds good! I replay albums from other artists so many times, but replaying my album has been a form of psychological torture. I can’t wait for it to be out, so I don’t have to listen again [laughs].

Wait. I’m going to have to sing these songs live.

What’s your relationship with the LGBTQ+ community like? How have they shown up for you?
In more ways than I could even imagine! The LGBTQ+ community has been the most accepting of my music, and I feel like that’s a common statement I’ve heard from other artists.

My journey with my own sexuality has been a quiet but thunderous one. I’m Nigerian and grew up in the church. Though my experience wasn’t nearly as toxic as some of the ones I’ve heard, it definitely felt confining, which I touch on in this album.

My high school friend came out as bi, and I remember being so happy and honored they told me. It was then I began unlearning a lot of the toxic beliefs I had held (with such little conviction, if I might add). When I left home and I was kind of on my own, it felt I had acclimated to a world that didn’t really exist outside of my town.

It was my gay friends, my queer friends, my trans friends, my bi friends that I made along the way who have helped me remember that I am on my own journey, whether that be romantically or musically, and that no path is linear. We’ll see where that journey leads!

– YouTube www.youtube.com

Your music breaks the genre expectations some might have of you at first glance. Have you ever felt boxed in? If so, what did you do to overcome the feeling?
Of course! People genuinely think I’m white — I’ve had many interactions where people have been surprised to find out I’m Black. Sometimes, I feel like it’s the only reason why I’ve been able to be seen as this zany pop person — and even that itself has been a box! I’ve always wondered if I could be seen as anything more. Do people take me seriously? Will people take me seriously?

Unpopular opinion: I don’t think I’ll ever overcome it. For me, “overcoming” would suggest there’s an overall solution to Black artists being boxed in, and I don’t see one in the foreseeable future. It falls on those people who subliminally or out rightly do the “boxing” to change their perception, and that’s unlikely to happen. Rather, I try not to let such perceptions get in the way of my work.

the apple tree under the sea, the new album from Hemlocke Springs, is set to be released February 13, 2026.

This article originally appeared on Out: Alt-pop star Hemlocke Springs has the Chappell Roan stamp of approval

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