The Apple Tree Under the Sea

The Apple Tree Under the Sea
Studio album by Hemlocke Springs
Released	February 13, 2026
Recorded	2023–2025
Genre	Synth-pop alternative pop electropop bedroom pop
Length	33:24
Label	AWAL
Producer	Burns Hemlocke Springs
Hemlocke Springs chronology
Going...Going...Gone! (2023) The Apple Tree Under the Sea (2026)
Singles from The Apple Tree Under the Sea
"Sever the Blight" Released: May 3, 2023 "The Beginning of the End" Released: September 4, 2025 "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Ankles" Released: October 22, 2025 "W-W-W-W-W" Released: January 15, 2026 "Be the Girl!" Released: February 13, 2026

The Apple Tree Under the Sea (stylized in lowercase) is the debut studio album by American singer and songwriter Hemlocke Springs, released independently on February 13, 2026. ^[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.8/10 [2]
Metacritic	81/100 [3]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Clash	9/10 [5]
DIY	[6]
The Guardian	[7]
The Line of Best Fit	8/10 [8]
Musikexpress	[9]
NME	[10]
Paste	C+ [11]
The Skinny	[12]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic , The Apple Tree Under the Sea received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 81 out of 100 from 9 critic scores. ^[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Isimeme Naomi Udu and Matthew James Burns, except "Sense Is" (Prelude), written solely by Udu. ^[13]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Red Apple"	1:41
2.	"The Beginning of the End"	2:52
3.	"Head, Shoulders, Knees and Ankles"	3:13
4.	"W-w-w-w-w"	4:27
5.	"Moses"	3:46
6.	"Sever the Blight"	2:49
7.	"Sense Is" (Prelude)	1:29
8.	"Sense (Is)"	4:18
9.	"Set Me Free"	3:15
10.	"Be the Girl!"	5:34
Total length:		33:24

Note

• All tracks are stylized in lower case.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal. ^[13]

• Isimeme Naomi Udu – lead vocals, production (all tracks); synthesizer (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 8), bass guitar (2, 10)
• Burns – production, engineering, vocal arrangement (all tracks); synthesizer (1, 3, 8, 9), electric guitar (2), strings (6), bass guitar (10)
• Mitch McCarthy – mixing
• Nathan Dantzler – mastering
• Harrison Tate – mastering assistance
• Pvris – electric guitar (2)
• Leah Zegar – violin (5, 6, 8)
• Nana Adjoa – electric guitar (8)

References

1. Ibrahim, Natoli (October 22, 2025). "hemlocke springs Details Debut Album 'the apple tree under the sea', Shares "head, shoulders, knees and ankles"". Exclaim! . Retrieved February 14, 2026.
2. "The Apple Tree Under the Sea by Hemlocke Springs reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
3. "the apple tree under the sea by hemlocke springs". Metacritic . Retrieved February 14, 2026.
4. Simpson, Paul. "The Apple Tree Under the Sea by hemlocke springs". AllMusic . Archived from the original on March 1, 2026. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
5. Watkins, Mike (February 12, 2026). "hemlocke springs - the apple tree under the sea | Reviews". Clash . Retrieved February 14, 2026.
6. Martin, Bella (February 11, 2026). "hemlocke springs - the apple tree under the sea". DIY . Archived from the original on February 12, 2026. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
7. Petridis, Alexis (February 12, 2026). "Hemlocke Springs: The Apple Tree Under the Sea review – a DayGlo DIY triumph in an era of risk-averse pop". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved February 14, 2026.
8. Pelignen, Louis (February 9, 2026). "Hemlocke Springs breaks to a personal journey on the apple tree under the sea". The Line of Best Fit . Archived from the original on February 9, 2026. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
9. Prenner, Michael (February 12, 2026). "Hemlocke Springs :: The Apple Tree Under the Sea". Musikexpress (in German). Archived from the original on February 19, 2026. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
10. Shah, Rishi (February 13, 2026). "Hemlocke Springs – 'The Apple Tree Under The Sea' review: colourful, concept-driven alt-pop from a future star". NME . Retrieved February 14, 2026.
11. Rosenberg, Sam (February 13, 2026). "hemlocke springs takes too big a bite out of the apple tree under the sea". Paste . Archived from the original on February 15, 2026. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
12. Chung, Rho (February 9, 2026). "hemlocke springs - the apple tree under the sea album review". The Skinny . Archived from the original on February 9, 2026. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
13. "the apple tree under the sea / Hemlocke Springs / Credits". Tidal . Retrieved February 15, 2026.

External links

• The Apple Tree Under the Sea on YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)