underscores Locks Into Pop on U

underscores has never struggled with ideas. If anything, she usually has too many. That is what made Wallsocket feel so alive - bouncing between sounds, moods, and tones without losing grip.  The new endeavor, U, takes a different route. It narrows the focus. Nine tracks, clean runtime, and a clear pull toward pop.

That shift works more often than it doesn’t. “Do It” lands fast with bright hooks and club-ready energy. “Music” leans into glitchy textures and sharp rhythm, with a clear nod to SOPHIE while still feeling personal. underscores commits to melody here. She lets songs breathe.

When the songwriting locks in, it hits hard. “Bodyfeeling” carries a huge hook and keeps it simple. “Lovefield” builds slowly, then pays off with one of the strongest moments on the record. These tracks show real control.  Still, the front half wobbles. A few songs circle ideas without pushing them forward. “Tell Me (U Want It)” feels unfinished. “The Peace” builds tension but never quite resolves it. You hear the ambition. You also hear the gaps.

The record holds together through its theme. Nearly every track sits inside the same emotional space. Uncertainty, misread signals, the slow burn of a relationship that never fully forms. It plays less like a breakup and more like something that never got the chance to become one.

The closer, “Wish U Well,” ties it together with a quiet sting. It does not reach for drama. It just states the feeling and lets it sit.

U trades range for focus. It sharpens underscores’ pop instincts and trims some of the chaos that defined earlier work. Not every track lands, but the highs carry real weight, and the direction feels intentional.

Order a vinyl copy of U here.