On her debut EP Always Growing, Paige—a New Zealand singer who first found an audience via vibrant YouTube covers—is decidedly vulnerable. Across seven tracks, she proves her skill (and guts) for exposing her innermost thoughts over glossy pop productions that dip in and out of R&B refrains and guitar riffs. She apologizes for her coffee jitters on “Too Much to H8,” pores over romantic idiosyncrasies on “Bloom,” and openly struggles with mental health and suicidal thoughts on “Yellow.” Her silky vocals are best displayed on “Make Room,” a giddy meditation on new love, and “Hit n Run,” a flagrantly fun bop that puts relationships aside for no-strings-attached pleasure. About halfway through the EP—as Paige utters her fourth “sorry” on “Too Much to H8”—there’s a mood shift: She realizes that while her quirks may irk others, they’re hers to keep, and hers to cherish. “I could change my name, but I don't want to change for you,” she sings. “Don't tell me what you want me to do/I'll go at my own pace and I think it's strange that you don't want me to.” Paige’s lyrics are uncomplicated, but manage to communicate a message that feels stretched out and worn in.