April Harper Grey, also known as Underscores, has made a name for herself as a one-of-a-kind producer, songwriter and artist. It’s easy to call her a mainstay voice in hyperpop and one of the best producers in the world; She has expertly crafted a discography that grows in scale from each album to the next. Adding to this legendary collection, Underscores released her fourth album, titled U, on March 20 — one that explores love and heartbreak with a more polished sound than ever.
March 25 marked the five year anniversary of Underscores’ debut album Fishmonger. Since that moment, Underscores has amassed millions of streams on major platforms both as a solo and featured artist. Her last album, Wallsocket, received acclaim from fans and critics alike, being seen as a modern classic. Wallsocket’s cover art depicts a now iconic symbol associated with Underscores, the horseshoe, also seen as a U, tying into the name of the artist’s newest album.
The nearly 35-minute album opens with a beat switch within the first ten seconds, setting the tone for excellent production to come. “Tell Me (U Want It)” is the perfect start to U. Musically, Grey adds instantly catchy bass lines, creating a bouncy tone that really scratches that spot in the brain. Her vocals flow as the track fades into its last chorus, which subverts expectations and glitches out into a sick breakdown. The final single released for U, “Tell Me (U Want It)” truly captures the essence of wanting someone so bad. Still, Underscores adds dimension, contrasting a sense of disillusionment as she sings.
“I guess I’m that type of person / I get what I want / Find out right after I get it / I don’t even want it”
The next track, “Music,” needs no introduction. With millions of plays on streaming in its release before the album, it would be easy to predict this song continues to remain in the heads of many all over the world. The first verse is catchy — the lyrics are playful and lustful, and the chorus is so perfect. The metaphor of this song being about another song — or music altogether — works so well with the story of the album and breaks the fourth wall in the most satisfying way. After 1:40 hits, the song cuts out and slowly builds back up as a vocal hook repeats. Lyrically, Underscores perfectly sums up her sound as well as the type of music envisioned in the story of this album. The track breaks down into a classic Underscores glitchy synth and bass section, at its best. If you haven’t heard this track, or haven’t played it in a while, you need to give it a listen.
“It sounds like pop, rock, electronic, rap, rock and roll / Nonstop bubblegum talking on the phone.”
“Hollywood Forever” is one of the most layered and thoughtful tracks on this album. Being just the third song, this album blew my mind on the first listen. The vibes feel very housey and are my personal favourite for head bobbing, and the mix stays consistently entertaining with repeated vocal lines that hit really hard. “Hollywood Forever” is clearly deeply personal and takes an emotional detour from the first two songs. Grey takes a moment to reflect on who she’s become, while showing vulnerability as she doesn’t want to be seen as a sell out. Real life blurs with the story element of the album, as the narrator mostly wants to live her best life, with all the success she’s gathered. Sadly, the relationship takes an unfortunate turn. The album reads as if the person who she wanted so badly is now a lost cause; someone who can’t see her right. This song perfectly shifts the tone from the fun of the first songs to aching heartbreak. The most goosebumps I had was the transition between this track to the next.
“The Peace” softens the atmosphere with pitched backing vocals, taking up a lot of space in the mix. There is something effortlessly nostalgic about this song, as Grey sings tragic lyrics laced with such an infectious melancholy that can be felt through the speakers. There is a sense of companionship that is being lost, and she clings on. This song also shows what Underscores is able to accomplish with zero drums and minimal bass. “The Peace” is made by the vocal melodies and harmonies, and they shine through, providing possibly the catchiest song on the album.
“Selfishly I wanted you there even if it made it worse/ We took a hit and watched the fireworks”
The fifth track, “Innuendo (I Get U)” highlights Underscores’ ability to pace an album. The softness of the previous song fades into this low key banger, and the drums come back in cool and hit hard for the chorus. Playful and slightly vengeful whispers flow in and out as Underscores sings about knowing what she’s wanted for through an innuendo: “tell me but don’t tell me.” It sounds as if she’s singing “I can’t love you,” though the mix cuts out the vocals, as if to show the internal struggle of voicing such a harsh truth. The low-key anger adds another relatable dimension to U that is transformed into confrontation in the next song.
The sixth song, “Lovefield,” feels like Underscores letting go. Grey has set the stage for even more heartfelt passages, as she adds in the setting of a birthday celebration to escalate the drama. Her vocals melt into the backing synth to fill out the song. These elements are balanced with soft piano resonating across squeaky drums. “Lovefield” captures the quintessential hyperpop beep-boop sound. Such an angsty danceable atmosphere, transforms rage into confrontation, and impending heartbreak.
“At this point, we’re just talkin’, talkin’ / Notoriously late to clock it / Supersonic love platonic / Did I lead you on?”
The seventh track on this album, and another huge single, is “Do It.” This song harps on the theme of music brought up in the second track “Music.” In this instance, music is allowing the narrator to live her best life. Underscores blends more of her real life into the album, as the character depicted is a pop star, with fans that she loves to engage with. Lyrically, this song allows Grey to throw away what holds her back and lock into her art. This song feels very climactic, musically and lyrically — it is the perfect moment to go hard with all the glitchy basses and hyperpop dance sections, and Underscores does just that. “Do It” is fast and full of life, and even takes time for a bridge and breakdown before its over.
“Don’t you get it? / People get my lyrics tattooed on their body / Its all under control”
“Bodyfeeling” comes next, exemplifying the feeling of temptation that this album is all about. It vividly depicts how the feelings of loving someone you’ve let go may come back. Underscores provides a sense of bittersweetness to what can be seen as tragic. The fluffiness of the first two tracks, with the next songs’ layers of conflict, culminate in an emotionally-deep penultimate track. Her vocals are dense with harmonies and beautifully performed emotional lines. The production is as clean as any other track on the album, the music builds up to an explosive finale with chugging guitars and real drums. “Bodyfeeling” has an added touch of classic rock and roll that remains thematically relevant for the final song.
Finally, “Wish U Well” dives into a ballad focused around acoustic guitar with soft laser-like drums. Underscores paints a picture of seeing this once-beloved person for the last time. Grey adds a line about them being with someone that looks just like her, which can be interpreted as Underscores doubling down on this person being entitled, finding someone who looks like her but doesn’t have power or fame. This can also be seen as Grey projecting herself onto this girl, imagining herself in that position one last time. She also notes the type of rock music reminding her of this relationship, possibly depicted in the previous track. The song builds up to an anthemic moment where Underscores sings about not going back as the electronic drums fade out. Catchy synth hooks in “Wish U Well” take us into a piano outro for the entire project. This song feels like the conclusion to this relationship, possibly the final moment before completely moving on.
Overall, Underscores remains at the top of her game. Her production is world-class as always, and with how individually stylized these songs are, this tracklist showcases just what Grey can do all by herself. With zero features, she takes time to tell a cohesive story of love, heartbreak and temptation that feels effortlessly human. The cohesion of the story, and its use of simplicity elevate the music and the album to emotional heights. Her unique sound remains a staple of hyperpop and electronic music as she is rightfully becoming one of the most touted names in the underground scene.
Her tour: The Galleria North American Chapter, will be a must-attend event for any fans of electronic or singer-songwriter music. You won’t want to miss seeing Underscores live.
Get tickets here while they’re still available.
Keep up with Underscores:
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