April Grey, known professionally as Underscores, is experiencing a rapid ascent in the hyperpop scene amid a demanding 2026 tour schedule. The San Francisco-born, Chicago-based musician released her third album, U, in March, receiving positive reviews and drawing a growing fanbase. The success of the album has led to increased attendance at many of her shows, with several venues upgraded to accommodate higher demand. However, Grey describes the tour as a balancing act, often shifting between playing in front of thousands one night and a few hundred the next.

Grey’s year intensified when she was invited to join Charli XCX's Music, Fashion, Film tour, a move that has broadened her exposure to larger audiences and more significant performance spaces. The experience has challenged her to adapt her live show dynamically. “After getting the Charli call, it’s like: ‘How does this look in an arena?’ It definitely is chasing a moving target,” she said, reflecting on the adjustments required to translate her work from smaller venues to arena settings.

Born in 2000, Grey grew up during the height of the San Francisco tech boom, an environment she describes as both vibrant and transformative. Her father, a musician discovered by Elton John in a bar, transitioned into the startup world around her birth, while her mother shifted careers from teaching to selling high-end jewelry internationally. Grey characterizes her upbringing as unique, shaped by the rapid economic and social changes of the region before and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

U, which Grey regards as a “big swing for the fences,” fuses nostalgic mid-2000s pop elements with experimental electronic sounds reminiscent of Aphex Twin, resulting in a polished, accessible record. “I wanted it to be big,” she acknowledged, emphasizing the ambition behind the project.

While navigating a hectic touring schedule, Grey recently underwent an emergency dental procedure to remove four teeth. Speaking from her tour bus shortly after surgery, she downplayed the impact: “The swelling wasn’t too bad. I don’t even think I got too chipmunky.” The incident underscores the physical toll of her schedule but has not slowed her momentum.

As Grey continues to build her profile through both headlining shows and her role supporting Charli XCX, she faces the ongoing challenge of scaling her performance to match the growing venues and audiences. Her trajectory highlights the complexities faced by emerging artists balancing artistic vision with the demands of live touring in a highly competitive music landscape.