The track continues to showcase the resonating appeal of the prolific artist
Packed full of thoughtful lyrics that are packed full of both depth and brutally honest home truths, Nathaniel Paul‘s single ‘Pain’ is an exploration of the overprescription epidemic in America and societies urges to numb ourselves with as many medicines and cocktails of potions that we can get our hands on, seeking quick fixes for wounds that go much deeper and require thought and care.
The artist’s nuanced and atmospheric sound does a great job of providing the required reverence for the subject matter, intimate and stirring in its approach but with enough of a bite to feel serious and bold. Nathaniel is an artist who has never been known to pull his punches or hold back in his social commentary, and this new release feels like another showcase of the immersive and poignant way that he broaches difficult subjects and makes engrossing and intimate pieces of work as a result. The track has a softness and a charm to it for sure, and the melodic nature of it makes it an easy enough listen, but it is the darkness that is explored through the narrative that makes it feel truly memorable.
“This song isn’t anti-medicine,” says Paul. “It’s about the way we’re conditioned to treat discomfort as something to be erased instead of understood. ‘Pills’ is a mirror held up to the way we cope.”
