With “Growing,” Alan Hatcher turns relationship tension into a quietly compelling study of self-determination. Drawn from his concept album Phantom Sounds, the track explores what happens when being asked to change becomes the catalyst for choosing growth on one’s own terms. At the heart of the song is a clever extended metaphor: the act of literally growing weed mirrors the slower, messier process of personal evolution. What begins as resistance—captured in the wry opening lines questioning a partner’s expectations—gradually transforms into agency. As the song unfolds, Hatcher reframes growth not as obligation, but as something reclaimed: creative, intentional, and self-directed.

Narratively, “Growing” is striking in how much ground it covers within a single track. The arc moves from friction to empowerment to invitation, culminating in a subtle but meaningful shift in power dynamics. By the time Hatcher sings about writing songs and asking his partner to sing along, growth has become communal again—but now on revised terms, shaped by autonomy rather than pressure.  the track sits comfortably between alternative R&B warmth and indie intimacy. The production feels understated yet assured, giving space to Hatcher’s confessional delivery and sharp wordplay. There’s an ease to the sound that balances the emotional weight of the subject matter, allowing humor and hope to coexist with vulnerability.

“Growing” works both as a relationship meditation and a personal growth anthem. It acknowledges the discomfort of being pushed to change, while celebrating the quiet power of choosing evolution for yourself. Honest, playful, and self-aware, the song captures a universal moment—when growth stops being something demanded of you and becomes something you claim.