hemlocke springs has a new song, and it’s called “gloria!” — a sprightly anthem that arrives with a music video directed by Jackie! Zhou shot in the Mojave desert. The alt-pop artist shared the track today to mark the start of a tour with MUNA, and the accompanying quote from Udu, who goes by Isimeme “Naomi,” treats the title as a call to arms rather than a compliment.
Title And Meaning
“gloria!” is a catchy, colorful tune designed to motivate. Udu describes it as a reminder to keep going, even when life throws regular shitstorms at you. The quote reads:
“gloria! Keep going! There are going to be regular shitstorms in life — personally and globally — almost every day, so you have to get up, grab your sword and GO. You’ve done this before. Things are hard and you will fall down, but the strength is in getting back up and moving forward every time.”
It’s a battle cry disguised as a pop song, and the title itself — a single word repeated twice — plays right into that energy. The song is meant to be sprightly, and the video, directed by Jackie! Zhou in the Mojave desert, matches that lightness with a striking visual setting.
The Quote Behind The Song
Udu’s quote is the heart of the release. She frames “gloria!” as a personal and global anthem, one that acknowledges hardship while insisting on movement. The sword reference is theatrical, but the message is straightforward: get back up, move forward.
The quote also touches on the idea of falling down, which is a curious detail for a song titled “gloria!” — a word often used as a compliment or a celebration. Udu’s version is more defiant, treating the title as a command rather than a reward.
The Tour With MUNA
hemlocke springs kicks off the tour today, and the run takes her across the country with stops in major cities and festivals alike. The full schedule runs from September through October, with shows in Phoenix, Austin, Dallas, Nashville, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Queens, New York, Pittsburgh, Boston, Columbus, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Madison, Saint Paul, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Stanford, Morrison, and Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Most dates are marked with an asterisk, indicating MUNA joins the bill. The exceptions are the two Boston shows at Roadrunner and the two Columbus shows at Kemba Live! Outdoors.
The Music Video
The music video for “gloria!” was directed by Jackie! Zhou and shot in the Mojave desert. The desert setting adds a stark contrast to the song’s upbeat message, pairing the sun-baked landscape with a track about perseverance.
The Dates At A Glance
- September 17: Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
- September 19: Austin, TX @ Moody Amphitheater
- September 20: Dallas, TX @ The Bomb Factory
- September 22: Nashville, TN @ The Pinnacle
- September 23: Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern
- September 25: Philadelphia, PA @ Skyline Stage at Highmark Mann
- September 26: Washington, DC @ Merriweather Post Pavilion (All Things Go Festival)
- September 27: Queens, NY @ Forest Hills Stadium (All Things Go Festival)
- September 29: Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE Outdoors
- October 1: Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
- October 2: Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
- October 4: Columbus, OH @ Kemba Live! Outdoors
- October 6: Toronto, ON @ The Queen Elizabeth Theatre
- October 7: Detroit, MI @ The Masonic Temple Theatre
- October 9: Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed Fairgrounds
- October 10: Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
- October 11: Saint Paul, MI @ The Palace Theatre
- October 16: San Diego, CA @ The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
- October 17: Santa Barbara, CA @ Santa Barbara Bowl
- October 18: Stanford, CA @ Frost Amphitheater
- October 21: Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre
What The Quote Actually Says
Udu’s quote is the strongest part of the release. It’s specific about struggle — personal shitstorms, global shitstorms — and it doesn’t soften the message. That honesty makes the song’s title land harder than it might otherwise.
The quote is a reminder that perseverance is the point, not the destination. The strength is in getting back up and moving forward every time.
The Tour Starts Today
The song’s title is a joke that works. “gloria!” sounds like praise, but Udu has made it a mission statement. The video, shot in the Mojave desert, gives the track a striking visual counterpart, and the tour dates with MUNA offer plenty of live opportunities to hear it.
The tour starts today, and hemlocke springs is ready for the road.
KEY FACTS BOX
– Tour starts today
– MUNA joins most dates; Boston and Columbus shows are exceptions
– Video directed by Jackie! Zhou, shot in the Mojave desert
– Quotes from Isimeme “Naomi” Udu
ALBUM FACTS
– Full-length debut: The Apple Tree Under The Sea
– Named Album Of The Week
See the video the story is built around at Stereogum.
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