Hemlocke Springs & Ana Peralta Chong on collaboration and friendship

Last month, we launched our inaugural project celebrating Spotify’s alt-pop playlist Lorem. Calling on three of our team members to answer a pop quiz about the playlist, it marked the first of four digital zines. Now, for the next part of the series, we are shifting gears and focusing on the dynamic talent that makes the Lorem playlist what it is. 

As our first featured Lorem talent, Hemlocke Springs, born Isimeme Udu, is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter and producer from Raleigh, North Carolina. She had just begun a Master of Science degree at Dartmouth last year, shortly after securing her biology degree from Spelman, when she decided to drop unreleased music online. Quickly rising to fame on TikTok, her eclectic, synth-pop single “Girlfriend” went viral, with over 70 thousand videos under the sound.

Last November, Hemlocke joined forces with Los Angeles-based creative director Ana Peralta Chong to produce and direct the “Girlfriend” music video. Together they created a video with a nostalgic twist, reminiscent of early 90s camcorder-style home videos. In just ten months, their video has amassed over two million views. 

Discussing their bond as something that started as “professional, but friendship came very quickly after”, Hemlocke found both friendship and a collaborator in Ana. “I was a super fan, I still am,” explains Ana, unpacking the timeline and development of their relationship. “So maybe the professional relationship came first – but I think the professional relationship coming first was essential for us to collaborate this effortlessly and become this close.” Below, Hemlocke and Ana discuss their best memories working together.

What is your favourite memory from your time working together? 

Hemlocke Springs: This happened very recently! A kid on his scooter asked me to sing a snippet of my song as I was going to get my nails done for a photoshoot, and we burst out laughing!

Ana Peralta Chong: When we shot the “Girlfriend” video I didn’t know the sunset was at 3pm in North Carolina, and Hemlocke didn’t know we were dependent on the sun, so we got the second half of the video in under 30 minutes. It’s the most iconic part where she is in all dressed in black with the wig. I gave her sunglasses I had bought at a gas station and said, ‘GO DANCE, HURRY!’

What is your favourite project you have created together? 

Hemlocke Springs: Probably the “Sever the Blight” video. That’s the first time we had a crew, a stylist and everything. I think both of us were like, ‘Wow, finally!’

Ana Peralta Chong: My favourite is also definitely the “Sever the Blight” video, just because it’s so different and I think it showcases Hemlocke as an artist and me as a director really well. It feels like a powerful video to me, and it was insanely collaborative with everyone involved.

What is the biggest lesson you have learnt about each other? 

Hemlocke Springs: Ana is so passionate about her work and art and will do whatever it takes to see something properly executed. Where I’m more focused on the big picture, she’s taking the steps needed to be taken in order to get to the big picture. I honestly feel I’m becoming a bit more detail-oriented because of her!

Ana Peralta Chong: Hemlocke is one of the most hardworking people I know, and doesn’t drink any coffee. It blows my mind on a day-to-day basis.

What has (the other) taught you about collaboration and friendship? 

Hemlocke Springs: I’ve learned that collaboration and friendship don’t have to go hand in hand, but when they do, the dynamic is much easier (at least for me). I feel like I can be much more frank with Ana on whether I like something or not, whereas if I’m not friends with someone, I would just deal with it! 

Ana Peralta Chong: Showing selflessness and gratitude during the process is much more important than the success and return you get from it.

What is your favourite artist to get ready to? 

Hemlocke Springs: When we’re together, we always go down the 2000s playlist hole, but I know for a fact Ana loves Bad Bunny!

Ana Peralta Chong: When I’m in the car with Hemmie and I think she needs a pick me up I’ll play Britney Spears or early 2000s artists like Chingy, Busta Rhymes and some Nelly Furtado – we go down a rabbit hole. I personally love me some Katy Perry.

Favourite song from the Lorem playlist? 

Hemlocke Springs: Right now, it’s “HOT TO GO” by Chappel Roan! I think it’s going to become my most listened to song this month!

Ana Peralta Chong: “Enknee1” and I’m not biased.

If you could collaborate with anyone on the playlist who would it be and why? 

Hemlocke Springs: I know this is a copout answer, but probably anyone! You never know what could come to be! That being said, I think I will be bad at collaborations in general, because I’m exceedingly horrible at coming up with melodies and lyrics on the spot.

Ana Peralta Chong: I can’t sing, but if I wanted Hemlocke to collaborate with someone on the Lorem playlist it would be Zach Bryan.

Do you make your own playlists often, if so which is your longest and most listened to playlist?

Hemlocke Springs: I used to, but now I just add on to existing ones! I would say my biggest/most listened to playlist is one called “Kind of sad, but not really”. There’s a lot of Blood Orange, Caroline Polachek, Sky Ferreira, and more.

Ana Peralta Chong: It’s my gym playlist. It’s called ‘I drank too much Celsius’ and it’s an hour long. 

Listen to the Lorem playlist here.