If you’ve spent any time on the "blue side" of the internet lately, you’ve probably heard a haunting, ethereal track that sounds like a dream you don’t want to wake up from. It’s the closer of The Marías’ second album, Submarine, and it’s called "Sienna." But for a song that sounds so gentle, it carries a weight that has left fans absolutely wrecked.
Honestly, the first time I heard it, I thought it was just a sweet, nostalgic ballad. Then I actually listened to the lyrics. Then I read the interviews. Now? I can’t hear those first few chords without feeling a lump in my throat.
So, what is Sienna by The Marías about, and why is everyone on TikTok crying to it? Basically, it’s the ultimate "what if" song. It isn’t just about a breakup; it’s about mourning a life—and a person—that will never actually exist.
The Ghost of a Daughter Who Never Was
The most shocking thing about "Sienna" is that the title isn't a metaphor. It’s a name.
Specifically, it was the name María Zardoya and Josh Conway—the band’s lead singer and drummer/producer—had picked out for their future daughter. For those who don't know the lore, María and Josh weren't just bandmates; they were a couple for years. They lived together, wrote together, and planned a whole life together.
But by the time they were making Submarine, the romantic side of their relationship had ended.
In a heavy-hitting interview with Variety, María cleared up the mystery. She explained that "Sienna" is a song about the child they would have had if they had stayed together. When she sings, "Sienna would’ve been cute / Would look just like you," she’s literally looking at her ex-partner and seeing the face of the daughter they’ll never have. It’s heavy stuff.
What is Sienna by The Marías About? The "Submarine" Context
To really get the song, you have to look at the whole Submarine era. The band moved away from the "Superclean" red aesthetics of their first album and dove into a deep, murky blue. It’s an album about isolation, grief, and the weirdness of working with your ex every single day.
"Sienna" is the final track for a reason. It’s the moment of total surrender.
Why the Lyrics Hit So Hard
The bridge is where most people lose it. María starts listing specific traits this imaginary child would have had:
- A temper like Josh.
- The habit of jumping in the pool.
- Singing to her pets (just like María does).
- Being "sensitive" like Josh.
It’s these tiny, domestic details that make the grief feel real. It’s not just "I miss you." It’s "I miss the person we were supposed to create together."
The song ends with the line, "See her face in the forest, then it disappears," followed by 15 seconds of what sounds like cold, whistling wind. It’s the sound of that alternate reality evaporating. Kinda brutal, right?
Misconceptions and Fan Theories
Whenever a song is this emotional, people start guessing. For a while, there was a lot of speculation on Reddit and YouTube about whether the song was about a miscarriage or a lost pregnancy.
While the song definitely provides a space for people who have experienced pregnancy loss to grieve—and many fans have shared how much the track helped them through those specific traumas—María has been pretty open about the fact that "Sienna" was inspired by the idea of a child. It’s about the death of a future that was once a certainty.
That doesn't make the grief "less than." In fact, some might argue that mourning a life that only existed in your head is its own special kind of haunting.
The Reality of Performing "Sienna"
Can you imagine having to sing this every night? While standing a few feet away from the person the song is about?
Fans have pointed out that in live performances, María often looks visibly moved or even pained. Josh is right there on the drums, playing the beat to a song about the daughter he’ll never have with the woman singing. It’s a level of professional and emotional maturity that most of us probably don't possess.
They’ve managed to turn their private heartbreak into something that belongs to everyone now. That’s the "Submarine" effect—taking that crushing pressure of the deep ocean and turning it into art.
How to Process the "Sienna" Experience
If you're currently looping this song and feeling a bit overwhelmed, here is how to actually engage with it without spiraling:
- Listen to the album in order: "Sienna" is the resolution. If you skip straight to it, you miss the "argument" songs like "Paranoia" or the "longing" songs like "No One Noticed." The ending hits harder when you've traveled through the rest of the wreckage first.
- Watch the Zach Sang interview: If you want to hear María talk about the "what if" scenario in her own voice, her interview on the Zach Sang Show is the most raw explanation out there.
- Acknowledge the "Alternative Reality": We all have a "Sienna" in our lives—a version of our future that we had to let go of because a relationship or a job didn't work out. Use the song as a tool to grieve those versions of yourself.
- Focus on the Outro: That final silence is intentional. It’s a reminder that even the biggest, most beautiful "what ifs" eventually have to be let go so you can breathe again.
Now that you know the story, go back and listen to the bridge again. You’ll never hear it the same way twice.
To get the full emotional weight, try watching the live recordings from their recent tour—you can see the exact moment the "disappearing" line hits the band.