By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – New York, the landscape of experimental pop is bracing for its next seismic shift as April Harper Grey, the visionary producer and songwriter known professionally as Underscores, has officially pulled back the curtain on her highly anticipated third studio album. Titled U, the record is scheduled for a global release on March 20 via the acclaimed independent label Mom + Pop. The announcement serves as the culmination of nearly twelve months of subtle hints, cryptic social media activity, and a trio of high-energy singles that have already begun to redefine the artist’s sonic trajectory.
The reveal of U marks a significant milestone in Grey’s career, following the massive critical success of her 2023 sophomore effort, Wallsocket. While that previous record was a sprawling, narrative-driven concept album centered on the domestic anxieties and surreal occurrences within a fictional American town, U appears to pivot toward a different kind of environmental psychology. In press materials accompanying the announcement, Grey described the project as “music for malls, airports, hotels, and supermarkets,” suggesting an exploration of liminal spaces—those transitional, often sterile environments that define modern life. Grey’s mission statement for the album is direct and intimate: “I wrote these songs for U.”
This thematic shift is not merely conceptual but was literally woven into the fabric of the album’s creation. According to the artist, at least one of the tracks on the forthcoming LP was composed in the heart of the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. This choice of venue reflects a fascination with the commercial architecture of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, transforming the mundane background noise of consumerism into a canvas for avant-garde pop exploration. By situating her creative process within the very spaces she aims to soundtrack, Grey bridges the gap between the artificial and the personal, a hallmark of her work to date.
Leading the charge for the new era are three singles that have already established a foothold in the alternative music consciousness: “Music,” “Do It,” and “Tell Me (U Want It).” Each track showcases Grey’s signature ability to blend disparate genres—ranging from glitch-heavy electronics and hyperpop maximalism to early 2000s indie rock and sophisticated synth-pop. “Music,” in particular, has garnered significant acclaim, recently being recognized by industry critics as one of the standout compositions of the year. The track serves as a meta-commentary on the medium itself, utilizing jagged rhythms and infectious melodies to deconstruct the listener’s relationship with sound.
“Tell Me (U Want It),” the album’s opening track, acts as a high-octane introduction to the world of U. It leans into the frantic, breathless energy that first put Underscores on the map during the SoundCloud-born hyperpop explosion of the early 2020s, yet it possesses a polished, widescreen production quality that highlights Grey’s growth as an engineer. Meanwhile, “Do It” offers a more rhythmic, driving experience, perhaps nodding to the “airport and hotel” aesthetic through its pulsating, mechanical precision.
The partnership with Mom + Pop continues a fruitful relationship for Grey. The label, known for nurturing idiosyncratic talents such as Sleigh Bells, Courtney Barnett, and Beach Bunny, has provided a platform for Underscores to scale her ambitious visions without sacrificing her experimental edge. Since signing with the label during the Wallsocket cycle, Grey has transitioned from an internet-underground sensation to a formidable force in the broader alternative scene, performing at major festivals and earning a reputation for high-intensity live shows that translate her complex studio arrangements into visceral physical experiences.
The full tracklist for U reveals a concise, nine-song journey. While shorter in track count than the expansive Wallsocket, the titles suggest a focused and cohesive narrative. Following the opening salvo of “Tell Me (U Want It)” and “Music,” the album moves into “Hollywood Forever,” a title that evokes both the legendary Los Angeles cemetery and the hollow glamour of the entertainment industry. Other tracks, such as “Innuendo (I Get U)” and “Bodyfeeling,” hint at an exploration of physical sensation and interpersonal communication, perhaps contrasting the coldness of the “mall and supermarket” setting with the warmth of human connection.
The album’s middle section features “The Peace” and “Lovefield,” the latter of which may be a direct reference to the Dallas Love Field airport, further leaning into the travel-centric theme of the record. The inclusion of “Do It” at the seventh spot provides a late-album surge of energy before the project concludes with “Wish U Well,” a title that suggests a sense of closure or perhaps a bittersweet departure from the world Grey has constructed.
Visually, the album art for U continues Grey’s tradition of striking, slightly unsettling imagery. It complements the music’s juxtaposition of the corporate and the individual, mirroring the "functional music" concept while maintaining the artistic identity that has made Underscores a cult favorite. The aesthetic choices surrounding the release—ranging from the typography to the promotional videos—all point toward a meticulously curated experience that treats the album not just as a collection of songs, but as a total environment.
The concept of “music for malls” also places Grey in a long lineage of artists who have interrogated the relationship between sound and space. From Brian Eno’s seminal Music for Airports to the vaporwave movement’s obsession with the shopping mall as a site of consumerist hauntology, the idea of "functional" music has often been used by experimentalists to highlight the alienation of modern life. However, Grey’s approach appears less about irony and more about finding the soul within these non-places. By writing for “U,” she centers the human listener within the vast, echoing chambers of the modern world.
As the March 20 release date approaches, the anticipation within the music community is palpable. Underscores has spent the last several years proving that she is more than just a producer of catchy, glitchy hooks; she is a world-builder. Whether she is chronicling the secrets of a small town or the hollow echoes of a department store, April Harper Grey remains one of the most compelling voices in contemporary music. U promises to be a record that demands attention, inviting listeners to find beauty in the most unexpected and mundane locations.
The complete tracklist for U is as follows:
01 Tell Me (U Want It)
02 Music
03 Hollywood Forever
04 The Peace
05 Innuendo (I Get U)
06 Lovefield
07 Do It
08 Bodyfeeling
09 Wish U Well
With the arrival of U, Underscores is poised to solidify her status as a primary architect of the next decade of pop. By embracing the liminal and the commercial, and by inviting her audience into the very spaces where she creates, April Harper Grey is ensuring that her music is not just heard, but inhabited. Fans and newcomers alike can expect a journey that is as intellectually stimulating as it is sonically adventurous when the album makes its debut this spring.