Hemlocke Springs on Selena Gomez, The Zune, and Another Cinderella Story

Hemlocke Springs on Selena Gomez, The Zune, and Another Cinderella Story

Author: Adam Unze - Music & Film Interviews March 11, 2026 Duration: 16:44

Is Another Cinderella Story actually the best adaptation of all time? Rising pop icon Hemlocke Springs (the mind behind the viral hit "Girlfriend") joins Adam to explain why this 2008 Selena Gomez classic is her ultimate creative "Spark." 🥀✨


From the depths of the $5 Walmart DVD bin to the high-stakes choreography of the "Mary and Joey" dance-off, Hemlocke breaks down how this movie defined an entire generation’s pop aesthetic. We dive into the genius of Jane Lynch as the ultimate pop-star stepmother, the "leather and tutus" style of the character Tati, and the tech-debate that will forever date the film: Was the Zune actually a better "glass slipper" than the original?


But it’s not all nostalgia—Adam drops a "childhood-ruining" truth bomb about the real-life age gap between the lead actors that leaves Hemlocke (and maybe you) questioning everything. 💀


In this episode, we discuss:

  • The $5 Origin Story: How a random Walmart purchase fueled a DIY pop career.
  • Nostalgia Tech: The rise and fall of the Microsoft Zune.
  • Fashion Sparks: Why "Tati" is the unsung style hero of the 2000s.
  • The Joey Parker Reveal: Navigating the "icky" side of teen movie casting.
  • New Classic: Why the soundtrack (featuring Drew Seeley) still hits in 2026.






The Spark Parade is a podcast that dives deep into the films and albums that have inspired today’s creative icons. Hosted by Adam Unze, each episode features a unique conversation with an artist about their chosen film or album, and how it sparked their artistic journey.


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What single piece of art-an album, a film, a television show-fundamentally altered your creative path? That's the central question of The Spark Parade, a podcast hosted by Adam Unze. This isn't a standard interview format; it's a focused excavation of a singular, transformative work. Each conversation with an actor, musician, or cultural icon revolves entirely around that one catalytic piece of culture that ignited their journey. The discussion delves into the personal history and emotional resonance of the work, whether it's a cult classic or a mainstream hit, tracing how its influence continues to echo through their life and career. Listeners are invited into these intimate reflections, hearing stories from artists like Margaret Cho and Maya about the moments of inspiration that sparked everything. The podcast operates at the intersection of music, film, and personal narrative, offering a unique lens on the creative process. By concentrating on a single artifact, each episode provides a deep, nuanced portrait of both the artist and the art that made them. You'll come away from the podcast not just with a recommendation, but with an understanding of how art shapes identity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Spark Parade
Podcast Episodes
Tune-Yard's Merrill Garbus' Spark Is Ani DiFranco's Not A Pretty Girl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:20
What album shaped Tune-Yards’ Merrill Garbus as both an artist and a person? Ani DiFranco’s Not a Pretty Girl.In this episode of The Spark Parade, Merrill joins host Adam Unze to reflect on the raw, political, and poetic…
Ok Go front man Damian Kulash's Spark Is Fugazi's Repeater [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:26
Damian Kulash, lead singer and guitarist of OK Go, joins Adam for an unforgettable conversation about the album that changed his life: Fugazi’s landmark 1990 release Repeater.Damian shares his teenage memories of discove…
Suzanne Vega's Spark Is Lou Reed's Berlin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:42
Legendary singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega joins Adam to discuss her deep connection to Lou Reed’s 1973 concept album Berlin — a haunting, operatic record that became a major influence on her songwriting, especially her ic…
Goldie's Spark Is Style Wars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:24
Legendary drum and bass DJ and producer Goldie joins Adam for a deep dive into the cultural force that helped shape his identity: the groundbreaking graffiti documentary Style Wars.From his first encounters with the film…
corook's Spark Is Juno [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:24
This week on The Spark Parade, Adam is joined by the incredible musician Corook for a deep dive into Juno, the 2007 indie classic starring Elliot Page and Michael Cera. Together, they unpack the film's raw honesty, its n…
ZORA's Spark Is Spy Kids 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:25
In this episode, Adam Unze sits down with ZORA, the genre-blurring artist and producer, to dive deep into the nostalgic world of Spy Kids 2 and its lasting cultural impact. They discuss why the film remains iconic, how e…
David Gray's Spark Is Van Morrison's Astral Weeks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:35
🎙️ In this episode, host Adam sits down with singer-songwriter David Gray to explore his deep connection to Van Morrison’s iconic album Astral Weeks. From his first listen at university to his eventual obsession, David u…
Bishop Briggs' Spark Is My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:15
Singer and songwriter Bishop Briggs loves the sweeping emo theatricality of My Chemical Romance's breakout album The Black Parade. She's drawn to its punchy lyrics and anthemic melodies, but also loves the risk taking ae…
Chris Diamantopoulos' Spark Is George Michaels' Faith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:47
Prolific actor Chris Diamantopoulos latched onto George Michael's monster hit solo debut album Faith at a young age. It resonated with him as a fellow singer of Greek descent, but he was also blown away by Michael's song…