Given the sheer volume of her fandom, it’s somewhat hard to believe that going…going…GONE! marks Hemlocke Springs’ first-ever EP.
Granted, the singer-songwriter had offered brief glimpses into her stellar artistry prior to the debut’s release, namely in the form of 2022’s uber-viral and uber-quirky single, girlfriend.
After that, Springs took her deserved success and ran with it, sharing a smattering of singles including the alt-pop gem heavun and the 80s-infused ditty gimmie all ur luv.
Springs somehow managed to outdo herself with each successive release, which perhaps should’ve been expected for an artist who counts Steve Lacy and Doja Cat as fans.
The resulting EP is what the kids might call a ‘no-skip’ project. Adorned with glistening synths, ‘50s doo-wop, and irreverent lyricism, going…going…GONE! is an all-out charm offensive, inviting listener’s into the technicoloured pop and relatable tales of one of this generation’s most promising voices.
Below, we caught up with Hemlocke Springs for a deep-dive into going…going…GONE!, making songs “about teddy bears and kisses,” and the “invisible bond” she shares with her fans.
Catch the full interview below, and scroll down to listen to Hemlocke Springs’ debut EP.
HAPPY: Tell us about where you are from? What’s the scene like in your neck of the woods?
HEMLOCKE: I am from Concord NC, a small quiet suburban town on the outskirts of Charlotte NC! There is probably some sort of music scene, but honestly I am not sure! I only just started keeping my ear to the ground on things like that..I’m not the person to ask (haha)!
HAPPY: Describe an average day?
HEMLOCKE: I wake up and go through some sort of existential crisis. Somewhere between 9 and 12, I take a shower, record some music ideas, and eat (these days, that is becoming optional).
I have some sort of schedule (shoots, travel, etc.). My ideal time is to go to bed at around 9 or 10..have I been doing that? NO, but it’s the thought that counts. OH, and somewhere in between bedtime, I eat!
HAPPY: Can you tell us about your musical background and how you first got started in the world of music?
HEMLOCKE: I took chorus from middle school to high school! I truly got into music when my friend showed me Garageband in highschool.
Since it was so accessible, I would just go on there all the time and make little ditties. I then heard of Logic in college, and spent money I didn’t have to buy it and make more music!
HAPPY: Congratulations on the success of your debut track ‘gimme all your love’! What was the inspiration behind this song, and did you expect it to gain such rapid popularity?
HEMLOCKE: Thank you! I was depressed and ovulating, two things that do not mix well together! I started making a song about teddy bears and kisses, and suddenly in the shower, the melody hit me.
I ran out of the shower butt naked and started recording…..then awkwardly got back in (LOL)! I did not expect anything to come from it at all, so I was so flabbergasted by the response!
HAPPY: You mentioned that your EP, ‘going…going…GONE!’, serves as a reflection of your transition into adulthood. Can you share a bit more about the themes and experiences that inspired this body of work?
HEMLOCKE: Totes! I think that the reality I had envisioned, the pathway I had for myself is going…going…ehh, almost gone! The reality I knew has suddenly disappeared and is being replaced by a pathway I know nothing of!
It’s lovely, it’s scary, it’s messy, and though you hope that everything will be okay, I’m not really sure that everything will. It’s kind of me accepting that I don’t know how certain things in my life will play out, and I have to be okay with that!
HAPPY: As a first-generation American with Nigerian heritage, how has your cultural background influenced your music and creative process?
HEMLOCKE: Though this might sound a bit of a copout, I truly believe music is the soundtrack to our lives. So in short, my music is the soundtrack to my life, my experiences, my problems, etc..
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HAPPY: You recently completed a master’s degree in medical informatics. How do you balance your passion for music with your academic pursuits, and do you see any connections between these two fields?
HEMLOCKE: I didn’t balance anything at all (LOL)! I was kind of overwhelmed with what was happening, but I only had some weeks left of school, so I kind of just sucked it up and pushed through!
If anything though, grad school prepared me for sleepless nights and answering a lot of questions….which is almost 90% of my job right now!
HAPPY: ‘girlfriend’ also garnered significant attention. Could you tell us about the message or story you wanted to convey through this song?
HEMLOCKE: Honestly, I just wanted it [the song] to be a vibe! Instead of being depressed and ovulating, I was the double d: depressed and delusional. So if anything, maybe I want people to be EXTRA delusional about love and romance and all that jazz!
HAPPY: ‘heavun’ and ‘enknee1’ were released in quick succession. Can you share the significance or meaning behind these song titles and the creative process behind them?
HEMLOCKE: I’m often in a silly goofy mood when I write my titles! I keep them lowercase as a reminder to not take myself too seriously as a musician. But particularly for these two titles, it just boils down to quirky interpretations:
Heaven only knows how I’ve longed for “u” -> ‘heavun’. Anyone = ne1 = nknee1 = ‘enknee1’
HAPPY: You mentioned using self-deprecating lyrics as a way to cope with the fears of growing older. How do you think this vulnerability contributes to the authenticity of your music?
HEMLOCKE: I think I use songs as a way to understand what I’m going through or what other people go though, as a listener and an artist.
Not saying that has to be the objective everytime you write a song, but every time I write a song, I like exploring/exploiting my current state of being.
And I think my listeners can sometimes relate to what I’m going through or what I’ve been through, which causes this sort of invisible bond.
HAPPY: You’ve gained the admiration of some of music’s biggest names. Is there a particular moment or interaction in your journey that stands out as a surreal or particularly inspiring experience?
HEMLOCKE: I remember meeting Steve Lacy and I kind of just sat still on his couch and hoped I sounded cool! I could barely look him in the eye my god, I was so nervous!
I also hung out with Toro y Moi and AGAIN, I could barely look him in the eye, I had never been so nervous. Honestly, I’ve been this way with everyone!
HAPPY: What makes you happy?
HEMLOCKE: Food. Wow, that was the easiest question I’ve ever been asked!
