HEMLOCKE SPRINGS RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE ‘SEVER THE BLIGHT’
May 3, 2023
Australia Music News, Australia Music Videos
by
Mark Horan Publisher/Photographer
BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST HEMLOCKE SPRINGS RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE
‘SEVER THE BLIGHT’
“The 23-year-old artist’s second single is an ideal rom-com song, channelling the bravado of MARINA and bright production of Phoenix.” – PITCHFORK
“hemlocke springs is making pop quirky again” – ONES TO WATCH
“the DIY appeal of all the best bedroom pop, but also showcases soaring, whimsical melodies, the panache of an ‘80s hit, and an unusual structure that keeps things interesting even after 100 listens” – COMPLEX
After the viral success of her most recent explosive single ‘girlfriend‘, rising artist Isimeme Udu (aka Naomi) who records under the name Hemlocke Springs has returned with a brand new single and video – the spellbinding and slightly scandalous ‘Sever The Blight‘.
“During my senior year of college, I started to daydream a lot,” Naomi explains when asked about ‘Sever The Blight’, “I really shouldn’t have, but I did, and one day I found myself tied in a basement. Well, let the dream begin!”
The song turns the rare trick of being complicated but remaining compulsory. It begins with complete intrigue, Naomi sweetly singing of bondage scenes over bird samples and skywriting synths, a testament to the EDM of her youth. But then the beat pounds ahead like a jackhammer, flashing back to her playlist of ’80s hits, somewhere among Depeche Mode and Phil Collins and Kate Bush. It is a love song for the longing, an ode to the very act of wanting.
Naomi knows that people will ask what that fetishist first verse is all about. “I’m not really sure,” she says, “what am I even talking about with this?” This one you can decide for yourself – listen to the ‘Sever The Blight’
Image Credit: Ana Peralta Chong
The 24-year-old artist rose to stardom last year with a pair of viral hits in gimmie all ur luvand girlfriendwhich both quickly racked millions of TikTok views and saw support from Pitchfork, OnesToWatch and Rolling Stone for her unique breakthrough sound with only two singles to her name. The North Carolina local was also named in NME’s 100: Essential Emerging Artists for 2023. hemlocke springs second single ‘girlfriend’ has racked up over 16 million streams and seen over 59,900 videos created under the sound, and multiple viral moments on TikTok. Fans have compared hemlocke springs’ unique blend of alt pop and rock to Kate Bush, Mitski, Japanese Breakfast and Soccer Mommy.
With co signs from Grimes, Toro y Moi and Steve Lacy (who called her the most exciting artist of 2023), hemlocke has established herself as a mainstay of the alternative pop space and a champion of Tik Tok, and has been named globally as one of 2023’s most exciting emerging artists to keep a close eye on.
Photographer and Editor/Founder of AllMusicMagazine.com. My love of live music has taken me to incredible experiences with the top bands of all time in stadium shows to the smallest venues with equally inspiring musicians. Using the medium of photography and my publication, these memories will last forever.