Hemlocke Springs ^US

With her sensational debut album the apple tree under the sea, Hemlocke Springs kicked off 2026 with a collection of songs that brought a much-needed sense of adventure to the current pop scene. “A DayGlo DIY triumph in an era of risk-averse pop,” wrote The Guardian in an enthusiastic review of the album, which has also been praised to the skies in several leading media outlets. 

Hemlocke Springs - aka  American songwriter Isimeme “Naomi” Udu - has described the album as a musical fever dream of a concept album exploring a journey of self-discovery – and it is indeed a fever dream that unfolds as a colourful, synth-bubbling and kaleidoscopic trip through several decades of music, yet always with strong and relatable songs beating like a heart at the centre of the music’s transformative space.  

Her debut album didn’t come out of the blue. As early as 2021, Hemlocke Springs began introducing the world to her alternative pop universe by uploading a series of quirky, home-produced tracks to SoundCloud. In 2022, she became a viral sensation with the song “Girlfriend”, and by 2023, NME had included her on their list of “essential emerging artists”. A number of the era’s biggest stars quickly declared themselves fans. Doja Cat invited her to support on The Scarlet Tour in 2024, and Chappell Roan has been a strong advocate for Hemlocke Springs’ imaginative pop magic.  

On the apple tree under the sea, Hemlocke Springs has managed to retain her quirky, DIY-oriented style, whilst, in close collaboration with producer BURNS (Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Charli XCX), she has truly managed to unleash her wealth of musical ideas in the inventive and almost cinematic format it deserves. Live, she has a reputation for delivering fantastic shows that balance grand pop drama, quirky charm and an energy that is at times almost punk, so there is plenty to look forward to when she visits Roskilde Festival this summer.