The Comment Section with Drew Afualo
HATERS AND DIEHARDS Ft. hemlocke springs | Episode 201
24 Dec 2025
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What are the holiday greetings shared at the beginning?
Your style inspiration is Miss Frizzle. I love Miss Frizzle! Oh my gosh, just so underrated. So underrated. That is so tea. I love that. Do I give Miss Frizzle right now? Yes, absolutely. Honestly, you know what I was thinking of with your look right now? It's like Monster High. Really? I love like a Monster High doll. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like a cunty little outfit. Thank you.
I give cunt? Yes! Hey everyone and welcome back to another episode of the comment section show starring me, your fave, your host Drew. Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Clearly. Or Merry Christmas Eve whenever you're watching this. I don't know. Girl, I don't know your life. Anyways, on to the guests. Today we have the iconic, the talented, the legendary Hemlock Springs.
Woo! Woo!
Welcome to the show. Thank you for having me, Drew. Oh my God, thank you so much for joining us on this very special holiday episode. I'm sorry I didn't tell you it was a holiday episode. It's all good in spirit, literally. Right. I'm with you. Yeah. I'm honored to have you here. This episode is presented by Sephora. And we're back. The next part, wow, you will not want to miss this.
Get 20% off full-size fragrances and body mists at Sephora now through December 24th. That's right. I'm talking about saving 20% on brands like Sol de Janeiro, Kay Ali, Valentino, Fleur, and more. Only at Sephora and Sephora at Kohl's, exclusions and terms apply. How you doing? I'm good.
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Chapter 2: Who is Hemlock Springs and what is her background?
No, just chilling here. I'm trying to figure out what to say. Oh, girl, don't worry. I'm already stumbling. Oh, don't even worry about it. That's my job. My job is to, I always like to describe it as like, I'm just driving the ship. You just take in the sights. That's great. I can't drive. So that's awesome. There you go. Yeah. Well, I'm happy to have you. Huge fan. Thank you.
Of you and your art. Same here. I would love to know just for get into first the history of your artistry and like how you became and how you came into performance as a whole. Yeah. I'd like to know that. Let's start there. Totally. I mean, I was doing school. I was up in Dartmouth. I was doing my master's program. OK, T, smarty pants. Oh, no. Love that.
I sound a lot smarter than I actually am, unfortunately. OK, you know what? We're going to fix that because you are smart. Ah, thank you. I love it. I love it. But yeah, no, I discovered TikTok after I got COVID, like two weeks before I discovered TikTok. What year was this?
Oh.
it had to be like 2022. And so I was like scrolling and I was like, Oh yeah, okay. I see what this is. And then, um, I was like, you know, I, I did, I just recently did a song like, how about I put it on TikTok? Cause I don't really want to do my machine learning homework. And so I did that. And then now I'm here. Well, I'm interested. You said you were pursuing your master's at Dartmouth. Yeah.
What were you getting a master's in? I was doing bioinformatics and I was just looking at, I wanted to- Two seconds ago, you were like, oh, I sound a lot smarter. Girl, I don't even know what that is. I think smart. It sounds a lot smarter. It was just using statistics and computer science to look at different biological data sets. Could be DNA sequences, could be sicknesses, could be whatever.
And so you sound smart as fuck to me. So if you're trying to hide being smart, you're not doing a good job. Thank you. That is so fucking cool. What got you into that? Women in STEM? Yeah, honestly, no, I went to Spelman, which is an all black girls college in Atlanta. And I was like, I want to do biology and I want to be a doctor first. But that wasn't going to work.
Hey, I would trust you with my life as my doctor. Oh, don't. You're dead. I'm sorry. I come in sexy or I'm like, yeah, she's the one. I'm honored. Thank you. What kind of doctor were you thinking about? You know, that's a great question because I went in, I was like, I want to be an OBGYN.
But then I was like, there's so many other doctors out there that I didn't know at the time, but I stuck with OBGYN. But then I was like, I don't really want to do that. Yeah. Yeah. After a while, you're like, never mind. Yeah. Well, that's the best time to decide. Exactly. When you're sampling in college. Okay.
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Chapter 3: How did Hemlock Springs transition from academia to music?
And then I went into my master's program and I was like, yeah, I really don't want to do this. So I'm like, oh, you just like do research and like be a researcher. And yeah, I ended up not doing that. What did you love about biology? I think I just like learning about just life, the life around me, what's in my body, what's out there. And I mean, I grew up. That's really cool. I love that.
Yeah, no, I was like, I just, I grew up with a lot of questions and I feel like I just wanted to seek the answers to those questions. And biology was like the way, I guess. I guess there are other fields, but biology was the one that made sense for me. So I'm like, oh, I'll do this. When did music come into play? Have you always loved music? Was it something you discovered?
Honestly, I think it was something that was just shown to me. I was in high school. I've always done chorus because I knew I could sing a little bit. It wasn't Whitney Houston, but I'm like, I can hold a tune. I was like, let me go. I got you. I got you. But one of my friends, who I'm still friends with, their name is MJ, they showed me, they're like, oh, I did a song on GarageBand.
And I'm like, what's that? And they're like, you have it on your computer, you dumbass. I'm like, okay. But I started just looking on GarageBand and just started playing in that realm. And then it just never ended. I was like, oh, I'm going to spend some money to just continue doing this because I like
doing it and why question that and so I just did it but I did it in secret because I was like oh like I can like it took me a while even now like to be like oh I'm an artist like I I produce and I'm an artist like I think girl and definitely back then I'm like oh I I just dabble here and there. I just, you know. Women in STEM for real. You took that and applied it.
It's like engineering, sound engineering. It's fucking cool. Literally. Okay. Yeah, no, and so I credit them. Thank you, MJ. I don't know where the camera is. Thank you. Yeah, whichever one you want. Oh, really? This is your closeup right here. Wow. Oh my God. Thanks MJ. I just talked to them. Their house recently burned down. So I know it was, it was actually crazy too.
That wasn't the, I was like, oh, happy Thanksgiving. And they're like, oh, my house burned down, but I'm going to go to like Thanksgiving dinner with my mom. And I'm like, how is your house not burning down? Or how's your house burning down? Not the crux of your message. I admire them. No, I'm like, yeah, kind of an awful thing happened, but on my way to dinner.
kiki i was like okay i was like all righty um but um okay so you got into engineering that's kind of how you started just making beats or were you like and you were singing on your own yeah i would like i would like sing in the library but like nobody would really be in the library right and so i was just like oh like actually pause i'll be in the library bathroom there we go and i would like bring like my mic i'll just be like okay
Why the library bathroom? Nobody would be there. Oh, and so it's quiet. Yeah, interestingly. And, like, I don't know. There were classrooms. There were empty classrooms. But, like, people liked being in the empty classrooms and not really the library. And so I'm like, well, I'm going to go to the library. And I'm just going to... You know, nobody's going to who's going to stop. They don't know.
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Chapter 4: What unique experiences does Hemlock share about her performances?
And like you would kind of be dumb to like. Just not go for it. Let it pass you by. Yeah. And I feel like fear was kind of rocking me. So I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna be Dora the Explorer. Let me put the backpack on and let's see where it goes. Right. Period. Thank God you did. Well, I think that's wonderful. What do you think? What were you afraid of?
um i think failure but i feel that that's just going to happen like i think i'm going to make a lot of mistakes i'm going to quote unquote fail a lot and that's not necessarily a negative thing it's just a learning experience absolutely and it doesn't mean you're not walking in your purpose exactly because you're absolutely walking in purpose so when when did you feel like it was like really starting to like oh my gosh i think this is becoming something okay
Honestly, I think it was when I got a, I'd gotten like little shout outs here and there, but I remember like Doja Cat shouted me out and I was very confused as to like the line of how, I was like, how does she like, how does she know me? Like what, what? Oh my gosh. And like all my friends are just like, what the hell? Like what is going on with you? And I was just like,
No, y'all, I'm an artist. I'm actually doing this. And so I feel like it was then. I'm like, okay. Oh, shit. All right. Yeah, though, very, very cool. Very cool. And since then, like, just I've just gotten like, honestly, I think it's been the community, like the artist community that I've been like, oh, like, I think that's given me the confidence to be like, you know what?
No, I I can I can do this. I absolutely. And I love like just being that this is my job. Yeah. You're also so unique, which is fucking awesome. It's so refreshing. I mean that so sincerely. And I saw you perform at the Rose Bowl. Oh, yeah, yeah. For Chapel. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We love here. We do love Chapel. And I know you love Chapel. Yes. She is wonderful and amazing.
And, oh, my God, the amount of times, so what about Chapel? Everybody always asks me about her. Really? Yeah, because she did my show. Yeah, yeah. And she doesn't really do interviews anymore. Yeah, yeah. But she did mine, and that's because we're friends. I'm dead. Yeah, but I was like, they're just like, so do you like Chapel? Is she awesome? I'm dead. And I bet you get that question a lot too.
No, I do, but I love it. I love it. I'll sing her praises to the cows come home. I was like, she like stands behind her actions and stuff. She like reached out to me like when one of my songs was going viral. And since then, like she's supported me all the way. So yeah, I'll answer. Hell yeah.
Well, you're getting cosigns from very like unique people in the industry, like people who I've broken through, which I think is quite the cosign. It's fucking amazing. And rightfully so, I watched you perform. I watched your whole set. It was incredible. Which one? I did night two. Okay. I was like night one was very interesting. But night two was also very interesting. But yeah.
I thought you were fantastic. You're kind. And even, you know what's so funny is like when we were in the audience, my assistant who was also like one of my best friends, Carrie, was with us, my sister and our friend Cody, and we were watching and then I was like, we should ask her to come on the show.
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Chapter 5: What insights does Hemlock provide about her creative process?
Who do you listen to now? Who's inspiring you now in the music space? Ooh, that's a good one. I feel like... I feel like I've been trying to get out of my comfort zone a lot and like trying to, because I will quite literally listen to the same song again and again and again.
I get it, me too.
I get that. So I'm like, no, you have to get out. You have to try stuff. And so I've been listening to this band. I think they're also... They could be 80s or 90s called Los Prisioneros. And they have a song called Tren Alcer, which I like how I'm like, oh, like I I don't like I try not to listen to a song again and again. I listen to that song again.
I listened to it on the way here, but I love it. I was like, but I love it. And it's just something, it's now something new. So I'm like, you know what? I, I, I met myself halfway in that. Yeah. Do you have any like dream collaborations music wise? Like something you would be like, Oh, I would die to do that. That would be so awesome. Oh man. I say, see my, I'm horrible at collaborate.
I'm horrible at, I get too shy. Oh, I moved the mic, sorry. I get too shy. I get like in my head a lot and I'm just like, Well, let me tell you something about this show. This is the manifestation hub. Really? So if you have someone you want to work with, you say it here. Really? Because it shall come true. It shall come true. Yes, I make it so. My third eye is on and open. I'm dead.
So if there is someone, who would you love to work with? I think I would love to work with Dochi. Oh, that would be so amazing. Oh, the way I got to chill. I know. Loki, I got a chill just now. I say, um, Tyler, the creator. Oh my God. I thought of Tyler when you were talking earlier. Thank you. So fucking awesome.
I'm like, I'm trying, I'm trying to think, I'm trying to just like throw it out there. If it's the manifestation, um,
i feel like those are i was like i feel like those are top three though like i was just like i feel like that would be really just a really cool combo oh i would die to see that really yes i would love that i'm like i'll i'll work hard geniuses all in the room together and i mean one of them i'm just kind of there i was like i'll just take their energy and just like hopefully like
No, I think that's incredible. And honestly, I feel like Tyler, the creator talks about that a lot too, about like not feeling beholden to one specific genre and being forced into one, but also like being confident that you can transcend genre. And I feel like you can absolutely do that. I'll be confident enough for the both of us in that. Thank you. Until you're ready. Thank you.
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Chapter 6: Which anime recommendations does Hemlock Springs share?
That is incredible. Performing is such a taxing endeavor. It's physically, spiritually, emotionally, all of it. The fact that you were able to perform multiple days in a row for two huge acts and then also perform to the level that you did? Because that was night two. Was that in that same week? Oh, no. Different week? Oh, girl, you're tripping.
Different week, but it was like... That's crazy then. You had multiple weeks like that. Exactly. I came back from, we had just finished Conan. I'm like, okay, I got a couple, it was like two days. And it's like, okay, time to go back. And I'm like, get back on that stage. But no, I was like, I'm going to go back on that stage. And you did. That is incredible. That is a huge feat.
Thank you so much. How do you like touring? i'll hate it absolutely girl me too and i'm so glad you said that because every time i ask people who tour they're like oh i love it you're lying oh yeah exactly liar we can't be the only ones who hate no literally i just i i love meeting fans and i love performing for fans and that is exactly what i've said yeah everything in between ass
I'm like, it sucks ass. It sucks ass. It's bad. Yeah. I mean, I'm with great people, too. And sometimes I'm just like, I know you feel the same way because I don't want to see your face. It really does get to a point where you're like, I need five from you. Yeah. Turn and face that way for a little bit. I was like, I wish I had five days. But five minutes, yes. I was like, please.
But I mean, I was with good people. I think I just was just like, I...
wow it is it really i've described it as like it feels like you're living on the run yeah like like someone's chasing me exactly that's how it feels it feels like i'm yeah like i'm running and and i can never catch my breath exactly like the only time i have time to do anything is to like shower change my underwear and then i gotta get back on there and i'm like
and that's like like i'm i'm bullshit talking about it but like all i do is like sit sit down like this when i perform live like i sit down like this and i just talk my shit for an hour straight yours is way harder so that's why i'm asking how is it because like physically i'm sitting there and i'm like god i have to tell jokes for another hour but you're literally doing cartwheels on the stage very different
I don't know how you can tell jokes were, and like, are they like, like, do you do like a different bit? Like every, every time. Honestly, when I was on a long tour for my book and I was doing like live comedy, we, the whole show is improv outside of like, we do like 10, 20 minutes in the beginning of just intro, like talk about what we saw that day, the city we're in, that kind of thing.
And then the next like 45 hour of it is like, we have a topic, we have people submit stuff and then we just read them out loud and then riff for like however long. So it was a different show every night, but similar theme. And I was reusing bits in certain areas of the country. I was like, well, this killed, so I'm going to use it again.
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Chapter 7: What challenges does Hemlock face as an artist in the public eye?
I think so. I said, sorry, guys. I was like, I was a little too much. Sorry about that. What about you? What was your worst one? Damn. I'm like, not to... OK, so it's OK. I'm like, I'm about to throw under the bus. Sorry. So I was like when I was doing Conan's tour, I'd never performed at Cincinnati before. And I did this. Well, I had a song like with Cincinnati in it.
Like I like name I name drop them. And I was like, oh, I'm going to, it was like that one show, I'm like, I want to do this song, because I'm not going to do this song anywhere else. So I want to do this song because I specifically say Cincinnati in this song. And so I go, I'm like, oh, this is going to be a great show, blah, blah, blah.
like it was so i'm like oh my god and i did this song and like they seem to like being name dropped but it was just like
and i was like wow but also i feel that so like sometimes i i sometimes i put like um how do i say like i like do like a like i put like a lot of makeup on my face and that day i did like i had like a pink corset so i'm like oh i'm gonna make my face pink so i did so i walked out there with like my pink corset and my pink face and like i think people were just like And I was just like, okay.
Boring. Cincinnati's boring then. They're boring. I'm like, I'm sure. Oh, a bitch can't put a pink corset on with a pink face? Oh, boring. I'm like, I'm sure. But I was like, maybe inside they felt some type, like they felt some type of way. I don't know. I did cry after that show. Oh, I'm so sorry. I mean, like, it happens. Like, it happens. And I, interestingly, have had worse shows.
So I'm like, you know what? This is okay. I'll win them over next time. That's a them problem. They're late to the game. And honestly, when I had Muna on. Really? Have you met Muna? I think I've met everybody. All three of them? I was like, you guys are managers. I think I met everybody. But I was like, I meet Katie the most. I feel like, yeah. She's amazing. They're all so funny and so amazing.
When I had them on, I talked to them about Taylor Swift's tour. Really? And they were like, oh, we started calling ourselves the Hot Dog Act. And I was like, oh, word. And they said, yeah, because, you know, as soon as we come on, everyone goes and gets a hot dog. No. I don't know if you've ever seen empty seats in a stadium before, but it's a different kind of vibe. And I was laughing.
I was like, well, they don't know shit. They don't know anything if they don't know Moon. Are you crazy? I was like, I love Moon. I know. Oh, my gosh. It was so funny. You're right. It is something that happens a lot. But it is one of those things where you're kind of like... All right. Hey, my feelings are hurt. Hey, love you though.
Love Ohio. I love Ohio.
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Chapter 8: What advice does Hemlock offer to aspiring artists?
You guys do be doing that sometimes. And so I won the room after I did that. This dude was for real trying to press me and I was like, bro, I'm telling you. Relax. Sorry, my bad. What do you think your sister's ugly? I'm dead. Don't answer that. Or do. Let's see. What's been the best show? Like the most memorable or the funnest or like one where you're like, I killed. Whichever one. The funnest.
Oh man. Most memorable. I feel like, okay. I feel like I was opening for Doja and it was, I think we were in Paris and And like up until it's going to be, it's going to be a regular occurrence. Like nobody really like, like no, nobody really knows me, but also like nobody really like, like sometimes like people are not fucking with the music like that.
And I feel like Europe, it was like kind of like, Especially in Paris. But in Paris, for some reason, they really liked me in Paris. Maybe they liked the beats that you make. I was going to say, you would think Europeans would be fucking with you. Because the beats that you make are very much so like what they like to hear. Yeah, I was like, I thought I would hit them a little bit more.
And so they were vibing hardcore. They were vibing hardcore. Like I got lights, like I got everything. I was like, oh my gosh. And like, usually I try to, cause I'm also a fan and I'm like, I want to see Doja perform. Cause if you haven't seen Doja perform, so. I can't even imagine. So, so good. And so I'm like, I'm going to go in the audience and look. And so I'm going.
And it was the first time a crowd of people were following me. And I'm like, oh, I have to go back. I actually can't enjoy the show. I was like, oh, shit. Okay. But it was so much fun. That's so cool. It's nice getting reciprocations at. Totally. Because then I can just like.
i don't know i can just riff off and stuff like that yeah and i also think too it's like that's the whole point yeah yeah of going to a concert yeah yeah yeah yeah enjoy yourself even if you're even if you're unfamiliar with an act like you're like okay yeah yeah with this literally how fun and in paris too is so cool it was so cool but up until then i would just see a bunch of tiktoks like
who is this bitch? Like, what is that? But like, it's interesting. Cause I have like a, there's a side, particularly on TikTok that like really hate me. And there's a side that will like go to the ends of the earth for me. So it was like, I love it. Trust me, I get that. If anyone understands that on that app, it's me. I was like, I love it.
Cause I'm then I'm seeing like, you're not going to talk about my girl hemlock like that. I'm like, true. Thank you. And that's what you need. Yeah. Haters and diehards. That's what you need. Yeah, exactly. That's all you need. I need both of them. Yeah. I was like, I need both, like, I need both crowds. Absolutely. I was like, I love that, like, that extreme reaction.
I love, I do love, like, even if it's like, I absolutely hate her. You know what? I love that I'm causing that reaction.
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