UNDERSCORES RELEASES ‘MUSIC’ — AND IT TRANSCENDS THE TITLE
Releasing a song called “Music” sets an ambitious, high bar, but California artist underscores’ newest track meets it. Between heartfelt vocals, repetitive, a pulsing bassline, and a glitchy yet harmonious production lies an incredible song about romance and music itself. The song isn’t just “Music,” it embodies it, foreshadowing a third studio album that is as vocally evocative as it is sonically striking.
Graphic by Paige Firsten (Crave Music Magazine)
“Music” is the lead single from underscores’ upcoming teased album. The artist, known offstage as April Harper Grey, debuted the song this past spring at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. As a Soundcloud native who began releasing music from the age of 13, underscores’ signature sound, consisting of vocal build ups and sharply textured production contribute to the sound and ongoing evolution of experimental pop. Inspired by artists such as Laura Les and 100 gecs, underscores aligns herself deeply with the hyperpop scene, previously having referenced her gratitude for the genre having an audience for "weird music.”
Although underscores has self-aligned with “weird,” it does not even begin to address the scope of her work and success, including that projected from her upcoming album. The single, “Music,” weaves the tale of a romantic connection, using music itself as a direct metaphor. There’s a level of self awareness to the track, capturing the recognition of feeling small yet simultaneously encapsulated by another human being, and the resulting connection you feel from it. With lines like “When you walk into the room / it’s like you have a theme song” and “I just want to catch up to you / And I don’t know where it comes from,” the song describes the relatable experience of putting a romantic interest on a pedestal, only to simultaneously shrink yourself for them them.
The edgy, distorted production further emphasizes the emotionally turbulent feeling, paralleling the lyricism. The music is chaotic with breaks and glitches scattered throughout. While it is intentionally disorderly to cement that extended metaphor, the pulsing bassline maintains the heart of the connection the artist sings about. The result of the powerful lyricism and mirroring production is an overall cohesive track, characterized by its emotional resonance and authenticity.
As always, underscores includes her witty pop culture references and signature humor, juxtaposing it with the dream-like production of the song. “Pop shows near Inglewood / Get tickets as low as $148,” surely induces a chuckle and an eye roll from any LA native who has been confronted with the inaccessibility of seeing their favorite artist live. The line highlights the commercialization of music beyond its service as an art, particularly for artists building careers on their deeply personal work. This is further accentuated by the repetition of “I feel the music” throughout the song, as it can be difficult for fans to simply “feel the music” and stay intimately connected to the art when confronted with service fees and a commodified industry that can be all about money.
“I just can’t stand when people talk / Like they’re a therapist, but your words sound like they come from God,” underscores sings, providing an on-the-nose reference to the common weaponization of “therapy talk” in the modern age.
Relatable social commentaries is a typical feature in an underscores song. With these lyrics she, yet again, drives the “weird” energy by collecting timely pieces of the present and infusing them into her music, creating a tongue-in-cheek masterpiece that is painfully real to many listeners.
With “Music,” underscores maintains her distinct sound as well as her heartfelt, yet timely lyricism in a unique equilibrium she has perfected over the years with no signs of stopping. If “Music” is setting a precedent for the upcoming album, there is no doubt that the album release will transcend *music* as we know it.
Keep up with underscores:
Website / Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / Instagram / TikTok / Youtube
