We're less than a month away from the apple tree under the sea, the debut album from alt-pop upstart hemlocke springs, one of last year's Best New Artists. Early singles "the beginning of the end" and "head, shoulders, knees and ankles" were mighty promising, and the new "w-w-w-w-w" is just as wildly infectious, on a Gen Z Cyndi Lauper tip.
The beat builds from percolations to hard-slapping '80s nostalgia. The vocals are piercing and full of personality. The overall vibe is so colorful that you can see why hemlocke got booked to open for Chappell Roan. As she explains, the song "details the reaction to a documentary I watched in high school whilst I was (unknowingly) struggling with the traditional expectations of others versus the expectations I had of myself."
Listen below.
the apple tree under the sea is out 2/13 via AWAL.
