“I’m not always as happy as I seem,” Pagu (the moniker of Nashville-via-Gulf Coast’s Jonah Tatum) notes on “Slice of Life.” The single is the first of what’s certainly going to be a series of songs leading up to his debut album. Up to this point, Pagu’s discography has consisted entirely of singles – often including local and cross-country collaborations. However, after a wipe of the Pagu Instagram account, an announcement was made yesterday regarding Tatum’s previous approach to art as a coping mechanism and his own personal and spiritual growth. It would seem, then, that these new songs would have more humility, maturity, and seasoned wisdom.

This first single certainly is a showcase of this. Featuring Pagu’s standard genre-bending alt-pop, the track oscillates between bubbly and synthetic to aggressive and organic. I’ve already appreciated how Pagu balances risk with payoff, and the song is both commercially viable while also subverting many pop conventions. Lyrically, it’s clearly a confessional number – one where he not only mentions his struggles but also admits he’s “digging [his] grave.” It’s an admission that things need to change. Chances are, the album will walk through the rest of the story – but until then, check out “Slice of Life” below.