North Carolina's hemlocke springs Embraces 'Black Whimsy' on Debut Album

The rising artist discusses her quirky musical style, political activism, and the challenges of transitioning from TikTok fame to a full-fledged music career.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Making the jump from TikTok viral fame to a solid musical career is tricky, but North Carolina's hemlocke springs (Isimeme 'Naomi' Udu) has managed to do just that with the release of her debut album 'The Apple Tree Under the Sea.' The album builds on the success of her 2023 EP 'going...going...gone!' and leans into her whimsical, art-pop sound. In this interview, hemlocke discusses the personal nature of the album's concept, her collaborative process with producer Burns, and the importance of being a Black, quirky artist in the music industry.

Why it matters

As a rising Black artist with a distinctively whimsical musical style, hemlocke springs represents an important new voice in the industry. Her journey from TikTok fame to a full-fledged album release highlights the challenges and opportunities for artists looking to transition beyond viral success. Additionally, hemlocke's openness about her political views and desire to use her platform for activism is noteworthy in a time of heightened social and political turmoil in the United States.

The details

hemlocke's debut full-length 'The Apple Tree Under the Sea' builds on the success of her 2023 EP 'going...going...gone!' by leaning further into her quirky, art-pop sound. While she didn't initially conceive of the album as a concept piece, hemlocke says the songs ended up reflecting a personal narrative about her upbringing and growth as an artist. Working closely with producer Burns, hemlocke experimented with different vocal styles and genres to craft the album's diverse sonic palette. One particular challenge was trimming down the lengthy demo version of the song 'be the girl,' which hemlocke had become 'married to' before having to make edits.

  • hemlocke's debut album 'The Apple Tree Under the Sea' was released on February 16, 2026.

The players

hemlocke springs

The stage name of Isimeme 'Naomi' Udu, a rising North Carolina-based artist known for her quirky, art-pop sound and openness about her experiences as a Black woman in the music industry.

Burns

The producer who has collaborated extensively with hemlocke, including on her 2023 EP 'going...going...gone!' and her debut album 'The Apple Tree Under the Sea.'

Santigold

An influential Black artist whose work has helped pave the way for hemlocke's distinctive 'Black whimsy' style.

Grace Jones

Another pioneering Black artist known for her whimsical and unconventional approach, who has inspired hemlocke.

Adéla

A rising artist that hemlocke is excited to see more from in 2026 and beyond.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I feel like I write songs as Isimeme Naomi Udu, and then I can sing them and perform them as hemlocke. And so hemlocke is the persona, and I'm just the girl in the back, like: 'Who the fuck is that bitch?' It's nice to be able to do that, because as hemlocke, I feel like I can be a bit more ' Rawrrr! ' More performative!”

— hemlocke springs, Artist (Clash Magazine)

“I think for me, something has to be a little connector. Like, this synth that's here in this sound is also used here in this sound, or lyrically this song is matching with this song. Things like that in order to get it like: Okay, well, we're hitting a lot of genres here, but everything's coming together, which is nice. It really was tough.”

— hemlocke springs, Artist (Clash Magazine)

“I feel like what's happening in America has always been there. There have been a lot of advocates, a lot of Black and POC advocates, just being like: This is going to happen. And then it happens. It's been something that's been in the making for a long time. The general consensus is definitely: Fuck Trump and fuck ICE. I'm disappointed that this is where America is, and has ended up, but it was founded on what some would call cruelty and what some would call colonialism.”

— hemlocke springs, Artist (Clash Magazine)

What’s next

hemlocke springs is planning future projects and pop-up performances to support the release of her debut album 'The Apple Tree Under the Sea.' She is also looking forward to touring again, despite some of the challenges she faces on the road.

The takeaway

As a rising Black artist with a distinctive quirky and whimsical style, hemlocke springs represents an important new voice in the music industry. Her journey from TikTok fame to a full-fledged album release highlights the obstacles and opportunities for artists seeking to establish themselves beyond viral success, while her openness about her political views and desire to use her platform for activism underscores the vital role musicians can play in addressing social and political issues.