Courtesy of Spotify
San Francisco-born artist April Harper Grey, known best by her stage name underscores, has built a reputation for turning internet-age chaos into surprisingly emotional works of art. Rising from online music communities and shaped by everything from hyperpop to dubstep and indie rock, the 25-year-old trans Filapina American is famous for her production that feels both messy and precise. “U,” her third studio album, continues the evolution shown in her 2021 debut album “Fishmonger” and her second release, “Wallsocket,” in 2023, boasting a collection of songs that are unpredictable but still deeply personal.
The most striking thing about “U” is its immaculate production. Every track feels layered and alive, full of sudden shifts that keep it entertaining. Beats glitch, synths swell & fade and vocals are pushed and distorted. Even when songs change direction halfway through, it rarely feels random. There is a clear sense in her music that everything is carefully crafted and put together seamlessly.
My favorite track titled, “Lovefield,” shows this best. It starts soft and almost nostalgic, then gradually builds into something much bigger. New sounds get stacked on top of each other — distorted vocals, heavier electronic elements, sharper textures — until the music feels positively overwhelming. The track captures the feeling of longing without needing complicated lyrics, relying more on sound and atmosphere.
Elsewhere, tracks like the lead single “Do It” and “Bodyfeeling” show different sides of the album’s sound. “Do It” leans into a more aggressive, punchy and fast-moving style, with a restless energy that constantly shifts. On the other hand, “Bodyfeeling” is comparatively laid-back, more reflective and allows its melodies to breathe while still layering in subtle production details that give it depth. Together, they show the range of sound and feelings that underscores works with.
Across the album, the lyrics stay fairly simple; underscores does not try to tell detailed stories. Instead, she uses short lines and repeated phrases to create moods. Themes of connection, identity, desire and isolation come up often, especially in the context of living online. The lyrics are sometimes hard to catch on the first listen, but they work together with the production to capture intense emotion.
While lyricism is not the album’s selling point, others point to linguistic characteristics that set “U” apart from mainstream American pop. Zay DuPree (known as @zaydupree on TikTok) shared a video with insights on the complexities of Asian American from the Bay Area accent demonstrated in the album, including “L vocalization,” in which final “L” sounds are pronounced similarly to “W” sounds or a vowel sound — most clearly noticeable in the final track, “Wish U Well.” Voice onset time — the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it difference between “stop” consonants and vowels — DuPree also noted, are seen in “Hollywood Forever” and “Lovefield.”
Even with all of the album’s experimentation, it remains accessible. Many of the songs have strong hooks or melodies that stick after a listen or two. That balance between chaos and catchiness is one of underscores’ strengths, and it never feels like it is being difficult just for the sake of it.
“U” is a confident step forward for underscores. The album does not try to fit neatly into one genre or sound, which is what makes it so engaging to listen to — the album is simultaneously messy, emotional and carefully crafted. This is all put together by its high quality production. “U” is the kind of record that reveals more each time you listen, and I recommend you set aside time to experience those new discoveries yourself.
Author
About the Author
