Braden Bales doesn’t flinch. On his latest single, “YOU LIED,” the rising singer-songwriter doesn’t just process heartbreak—he burns through it with a voice full of ache and disbelief. Released via Capitol Records, the track arrives as a lead-in to his upcoming EP 5 STAGES OF GRIEF, and if this song is any indication, listeners should brace themselves for something deeply cathartic and uncomfortably honest.
“YOU LIED” sits squarely in the depression stage of that five-part journey, anchored in the emotional wreckage left behind after trust is shattered. It’s not just about heartbreak—it’s about betrayal, disillusionment, and the suffocating fog of self-doubt that creeps in afterward. With stripped-down production that lets Bales’ voice carry the weight, the track feels like a midnight confession, each lyric cutting closer to the bone: this is personal, unfiltered, and purposefully raw.
In his own words, Bales wrote the song after hearing music from his ex that painted their relationship in a negative light. The response wasn’t petty—it was painful. “YOU LIED” isn’t revenge; it’s the sound of someone coming to terms with a reality they didn’t want to believe. That emotional honesty is what makes it hit so hard. It’s not about dressing up the sadness—it’s about sitting in it and letting it sink.
Bales’ ability to tap into universal feelings of grief and heartbreak has earned him a growing audience, and 2025 is already shaping up to be a major year. Fresh off his first headlining tour, he’s now sharing the stage with Livingston on The Story Continues North American tour, hitting major cities like New York, LA, and Nashville.
What sets Braden Bales apart is his commitment to emotional truth. “YOU LIED” isn’t easy listening—but that’s the point. It’s heartbreak in its most unguarded form, and it’s exactly why Bales is becoming one of pop’s most compelling storytellers.
