9 Underscores Songs You Need in Your Life
The FADER’s latest cover star underscores (April Harper Grey) has proven herself to be a singular force in modern music. The 26-year-old popstar and super-producer has masterfully navigated hyperpop, math rock, digitized folk, and experimental dance music—previously under her milkfish alias—before refining her focus on pop music for her 2026 breakout project, U. Regardless of the genre, Grey’s work is defined by sharp, incisive songwriting and production that consistently pushes boundaries.
Here are nine essential tracks from the career of our July cover star.
“Spoiled Little Brat”
One of underscores’s earliest internet hits, “Spoiled Little Brat” captures the essence of her early period. It is defined by pop-punk panache and April’s signature sound design, featuring glitchy textures, toy-like synth melodies, and unapologetically pugnacious lyrics.
“The fish song”
While often lauded for her technical production, underscores’s true superpower lies in her sensitive, detailed songwriting. “The fish song,” the penultimate track on her 2021 debut fishmonger, transforms a peculiar story about a rare fish into a moving meditation on impermanence.
“Loansharks” feat. gabby start
An early indicator of her shift toward pop, this collaboration with gabby start from 2021’s boneyard aka fearmonger seamlessly blends dubstep and math rock with an undeniable bubblegum catchiness.
“Gunk”
“Gunk” stands as one of the most impressive displays of songwriting and production in her catalog, featuring a quiet, acoustic folk narrative that erupts into pure dubstep cacophony.
“Locals (Girls like us)” feat. gabby start
This standout from 2023’s Wallsocket turns a list of anatomical terms into an inescapable earworm, expanding the album’s suburban mythology into flirty, provocative territory.
“Music”
Arguably the biggest hit from U, “Music” is a spirited anthem about the intersection of romantic infatuation and the necessity of art, anchored by delicious triplet rhythms.
“Do It”
“Do It” marks the moment underscores fully embraced her role as a pop performer. It combines early-aughts Timbaland-style production with contemporary K-pop polish.
“Bodyfeeling”
True to its title, “Bodyfeeling” is a funky, embodied track with a bassline that hits with visceral impact, ranking among her most evocative work.
“The Peace”
The sleeper viral hit from U, “The Peace” serves as the album’s central ballad. Utilizing Imogen Heap-style vocal harmonies, it highlights underscores’s ability to let her songwriting take center stage.
