Briston Maroney Tackles Growing Pains and New Beginnings on Single “I Told You So”

With the release of his album Ultrapure dropping only four months ago, new music from Briston Maroney this early into 2024 was not on my bingo card. But for some wonderful and unknown reason, he’s already released a single with “I Told You So.”

After spending most of his life in Tennessee, the 26-year-old recently made the decision to move to Los Angeles, alongside his partner and fellow singer-songwriter Samia. “I Told You So” seems to be both a way of thanking her for going through this massive life change by his side. “Blue dress, only you could look this at home in a car that was rented.”

From the lyrics in the song, the listener can easily point out that Samia was actually born in LA: “we talked of memories made on the beach where you were a child,” so this trip was likely a completely different experience for each of them.

Maroney expresses his hesitancy to move, both on social media and in the lyrics of the track. “Holdin’ hands, goin’ numb, I let it, I think we just missed the exit.” Although the choice had already been made and they were already on their way there, it’s like he was looking for an escape until the very last second.

Los Angeles is a huge, scary place where a lot of people relocate to in order to chase their dreams. Despite both Briston and Samia’s careers being decently established by now, moving across the country to a place that you’ve heard so many good (and bad) things about can definitely be nerve-wrecking. Referencing another Los Angeles location, “Bonfire, I was the outsider to kings of Pasadena,” Maroney acknowledges feeling like he doesn’t belong, but then sings about how his partner tried to reassure him: “And you said, ‘Get out of your head, oh, they’re all so stoked to meet you.’

The softness of the production on the song seems contrasting to all the anxious thoughts he’s admitting to, and his admiration for her even turns into fear at one point (“You swear that they’re not in love with you, of course, they are, part of me is terrified, all of me knows why.”)

This entire track is vulnerable and clear about what Maroney wants to say. The capacity to just confess all these negative feelings and still make them sound beautiful is something Briston has always done well, but this one feels different. It feels like there are some things still unresolved for him, and we’re just hearing them out right now, as he deals and struggles with them in real time.

“I Told You So” is out now.