Every week, 88Nine music director Erin Wolf shares a sonic gem she found using her nearly 20 years of new-music exploration experience. You can hear all her discoveries live on 88Nine at 10 p.m. every Monday on What’s All This: Adventures in New Music.
For the past three-ish years, hemlocke springs (the project of North Carolina’s Isimeme Udu) has been sharing belovedly nerdy synth-pop songs on TikTok, which has ultimately led to more widespread recognition. Now, notable musicians like Doja Cat and Chappell Roan are smitten and taking her on tour.
As a longtime fan, it’s interesting and gratifying to hear her delightfully nerdy, homegrown vibes stepping out into a bigger arena. That includes her long-anticipated debut, the apple tree under the sea, which saw producer BURNS helping oomph up her playful (and occasionally verbose songs) that center around her upbringing as a child of devout parents from Nigeria.
New and old fans alike can find the new album out now via AWAL, and you can hear the track “be the girl!” from hemlocke springs on the latest episode of What’s All This via the player at the top of the page. I’ll be back at 10 p.m. next Monday and every Monday on 88Nine with another collection of fresh tunes on What’s All This: Adventures in New Music.
Best new indie music this week
- Lykke Li, “Lucky Again”
- hemlocke springs, “be the girl!”
- Fcukers, “Beatback”
- Kim Gordon, “DIRTY TECH”
- Stereolab, “Cloud Land”
- youbet, “Ground Kiss”
- Luke Temple and the Cascading Moms, “Shake Me Awake”
- White Fence, “Your Eyes”
- Touch Girl Apple Blossom, “The Springtime Reminds Me Of…”
- Kevin Morby, “Javelin”
- Mei Semones, “Koneko (ft. Liana Flores)”
- Deb Never, “ARCADE”
- Baby Rose, “Friends Again (ft. Leon Thomas)”
