Shane Michael Boose didn't expect 2025 to be his breakthrough year, but just shy of his 20th birthday, the singer earned not one but two entries on the Billboard Hot 100. Boose, who goes by the stage name sombr, told Billboard, "there's nothing that can prepare you for something like this" — but after a dive into his discography, it's hard to see his catapult into fame as anything but inevitable.
With a knack for weaving lovelorn stories into explosive bangers, sombr's power duo of singles, "back to friends" and "undressed," embody his talents as a singer/songwriter with such fervent vocals. And with more than one billion streams combined for just those two songs, it's evident the lovable, lanky 20-year-old is on the road to being a household name.
Like many of his Gen Z peers, the New York-based musician achieved his big break through TikTok, with his sadder songs spiraling around until they climbed their way up the charts. His internet-driven rise to fame shows how he represents a different, emerging type of rock star: the chronically online kind.
But taking a listen to his debut album, you might not immediately guess that sombr has such a conspicuous online presence — let alone his birth year being 2005. Released Aug. 22, I Barely Know Her pulses with raw alt-rock that takes inspiration from the '70s, with tracks ranging from groovy to lamenting.
Inspired by the likes of Jeff Buckley, Prince and the Rolling Stones, the 10-track record swells with late-night longing, inked with razor-sharp memories slowly bleeding away with time and tears. When he sings, you can feel the intensity bursting out of him, practically needing to escape his chest — and he lets that sentiment guide him. "This is corny to say," he told i-D, "[but] it's like my music got me through life."
As sombr prepares for the next leg of his headlining tour later this month, get to know all about this rising star's journey with GRAMMY.com.
Growing Up In New York Influenced His Music
Though he's currently based in Los Angeles, sombr was born and raised in New York. He grew up on the Lower East Side, listening to everything from Radiohead to the "Dear Evan Hansen" soundtrack to Pop Smoke.
While sombr's music might not take direct influence from Broadway nor rap, the city he grew up in still influenced him both sonically and lyrically. Back in the '70s, New York helped new wave flourish, and you can hear echoes of that pop sensibility in I Barely Know Her, as sombr's LES bedroom doubled as his makeshift studio. Scenes on the album also take place in New York City, from a song titled "Canal Street" to a Brooklyn apartment mentioned in "i wish i knew how to quit you."
Fittingly, sombr celebrated his album release in his home city, performing a free pop-up concert in Times Square on the eve of its arrival. "It was an honor to be able to shut down the street that I grew up on for a hometown album release show," the musician wrote in an Instagram post about the night.
He Dropped Out Of High School To Pursue His Dreams
Making music full-time has long been a goal for sombr; he first dabbled in Logic Pro and Garageband in middle school and majored in vocal music at LaGuardia High School. "I would be in [high] school, I'd be in the back of class either sleeping or on my iPad, writing music," he told PEOPLE.
After posting an indie song called "Caroline" on TikTok in 2022, record labels popped up in his inbox the next morning. sombr took it as a sign to drop out, signing with Warner Records in 2023. "My mom wasn't too happy. I think my dad was more supportive," he shared, "but it was just like, 'This is all I wanted to do. Why should I go to school and delay the whole thing when it's happening now?'"
His Music Is Entirely Self-Written
Ever since he began experimenting with music in middle school, sombr has been penning songs solo. Across all 10 tracks on I Barely Know Her, sombr is the only credited songwriter — a relatively uncommon feat that speaks to his desire to stay in control of his own creative vision. His lyrics are self-reflective and hungry, often pining for something he knows is long over. "All I want is for my best song to be as good as Jeff Buckley's worst," sombr told i-D.
sombr also co-produced his album, joined by only one other person who he credits as a mentor of his: Tony Berg, a GRAMMY-winning producer who has worked with Phoebe Bridgers, Squeeze and Taylor Swift, among others. Together, the duo assembled an album that's both soulful and wistful, putting a megaphone to sombr's heartbreak.
His Honesty Has Gotten Him In Trouble
Occasionally, his honest songwriting lands him in hot water. After "back to friends" and "undressed" surged in popularity in spring, sombr landed a slot performing the former track on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in May. While his performance went smoothly, he revealed in an interview with i-D that he came offstage to a series of upset missed calls and texts from the person who had inspired the moody song.
"It's definitely got me in trouble, but if all art was hiding the truth, art would f—ing suck," sombr admitted to i-D. On I Barely Know Her, sombr digs into that harsh truth, shedding light on love in a way that's painfully uncomfortable but genuine.
He Has A TikTok Spam Account "For The Girlies That Get It"
Considering his age, it might not be a surprise that sombr has a spam TikTok account — but unlike other 20-year-olds who also have secondary social profiles to post unfiltered content, sombr's spam account (@sombrsucks) has more than 13 million likes.
"This page is for the girlies that get it… if you don't, scroll!" he declares in its bio.
While sombr's volatile alt-rock is defined by serious poignance, the musician himself online is quite the opposite. Lighthearted and ridiculously silly, his promotional TikTok account often jokingly plays into the "performative male" trope (a trending term identifying a man who presents himself inauthentically to be more socially acceptable and more appealing to women).
Whether he's posting about matcha or feminist literature, sombr's self-deprecating comedy online is always ahead of the trend (and brilliant marketing) in classic Gen Z fashion.
He Already Has Famous Friends
Even though he's just getting started, sombr is already expanding his creative circle with other rising stars.
Most recently, sombr broke the internet when he shared online that Addison Rae would be starring in the music video for his latest single "12 to 12." Showcasing sombr and Rae as love interests on a ruby dance floor, the unexpected crossover garnered nearly 5 million views in one month.
Ahead of his album release, sombr also posted promotional videos with Laufey, a GRAMMY-winning artist known for her sophisticated blend of jazz and pop, poking fun at how their most recent albums share the same release date.
Additionally, sombr met KATSEYE at Lollapalooza this year, and has been spotted with other celebrities like Djo, Mark Eydelshteyn (Anora) and Finn Wolfhard. Who knows, it may only be a matter of time until his dream collab with Billie Eilish becomes a reality.
His First Headlining Tour Has Already Been A Massive Success
After serving as a supporting act for Nessa Barrett and Daniel Seavey, sombr's spike in popularity translated to his own headlining tour selling out almost instantly. When he first announced the Late Nights & Young Romance Tour in April, he not only needed to upgrade all the venues, but also had to add 12 more shows – a trend that has only continued.
While sombr played four shows in Europe in May and June, his tour really kicks into gear on Sept. 21. Beginning in St. Augustine, Fl., he'll play 31 shows across North America, all of which are either sold out or have been upgraded.
Following his North American trek (which wraps in Brooklyn, New York, on Nov. 6), he'll spend two weeks in December performing in Australia and New Zealand. He's already plotted shows for 2026, too, with 21 shows in Europe through February and March.
Though he admitted touring can sometimes be lonely, sombr reflected on his massive love of touring with Billboard: "That hour that you're onstage always feels like the best hour you've had in your life yet — until you do it again the next night."