April Grey, who records as Underscores, has experienced significant career momentum throughout the year. Her third studio album, U, debuted in March and received positive reviews, generating considerable new fan interest. The album’s success led to venue upgrades across her headline tour dates, though Grey noted the experience created scheduling challenges ranging from performances to 4,000 people to smaller crowds of 400. Her current involvement supporting Charli xcx’s Music, Fashion, Film tour represents another major step forward, prompting Grey to reconsider how to adapt her live show for arena-sized audiences.
Grey was born in 2000 in San Francisco and grew up during the city’s tech boom. Her father worked in the startup sector while her mother taught school, though both have since moved into different professional directions. The San Francisco music scene, particularly the future bass movement of the mid-2010s, significantly influenced her early development as a producer. During high school, Grey focused intently on music rather than social activities, inspired partly by discovering electronic producer Skrillex at age 12.
Grey’s recording career began with experimental music released online before her 2021 debut album Fishmonger established her underground reputation. Her follow-up, 2023’s Wallsocket, was a concept album that Grey felt was misunderstood by audiences. For U, she intentionally shifted toward pop production while exploring themes she had previously avoided, attempting to write nine love songs despite limited prior experience with the genre. The resulting album blends early-2000s pop sensibilities with experimental electronic production.
During an interview conducted from her tour bus following dental surgery, Grey addressed perceptions about her generation’s emotional capacity. She rejected characterizations of Gen Z as emotionally disconnected, suggesting alternative explanations for observed behavioral patterns while affirming the presence of meaningful relationships and affection within her peer group.
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