Sombr

Biography

Shane Michael Boose (born July 5, 2005), known professionally as Sombr (stylized in lowercase), is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He released his debut single, "Nothing Left to Say×nothing left to say1 October 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1nothing left to say3:40", in 2021 and his first extended play (EP) In Another Life×in another life15 September 2023 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1burner phone3:522ivy4:073don’t let me down3:434you’re so pretty3:465why are we like this2:356silhouette4:177my house is warm3:368weak3:57 in 2023, through Warner Records and his own imprint, SMB.
In 2025, Sombr released his debut studio album, I Barely Know Her×I Barely Know Her22 August 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1crushing3:27212 to 124:033i wish i knew how to quit you3:524back to friends3:195canal street5:026dime3:467undressed3:028come closer3:149we never dated3:1710under the mat4:45, which included his two breakout hits "Back to Friends×back to friends27 December 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1back to friends3:19" and "Undressed×undressed21 March 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1undressed3:02", both of which reached the top 20 of the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Hot 100. Internationally, both songs also had notable success, charting within the top ten in several countries. He subsequently released two followup singles, "We Never Dated×we never dated20 June 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1we never dated3:17" and "12 to 12×12 to 1224 July 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track112 to 124:03". Sombr received nominations for Best New Artist at the 68th Grammy Awards and 2025 MTV Video Music Awards. At the VMAs, he was nominated in two additional categories, winning Best Alternative Video for "Back to Friends". In 2026, he released "Homewrecker×Homewrecker5 February 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Homewrecker3:29", the first single since his debut album.

Early life

Shane Michael Boose was born on July 5, 2005, in New York City, and raised on the Lower East Side. He is the son of Andy Boose, who is the founder of AAB Productions, an event planning company, and Bennah Serfaty who works in PR at amFAR. His father is of German, Irish, and English descent and his mother is Jewish, with roots in Morocco, Lithuania, and Poland. Shane Boose attended LaGuardia High School as a vocal major but dropped out during his junior year after releasing "Caroline×caroline15 June 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1caroline3:18" in 2022. He is now based in Los Angeles.
Boose was introduced to GarageBand at the end of elementary school and began experimenting with layering tracks and harmonies. In middle school, he began using Logic Pro and learning production techniques through online tutorials. By high school, he had started pursuing music more seriously and focused on producing his own material rather than working with outside producers.

2021–2024: Career beginnings

Boose adopted the stage name Sombr upon the release of his debut single, explaining that the name incorporated his initials (SMB) and reflected his emotional state at the time. He released his debut single, "Nothing Left to Say×nothing left to say1 October 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1nothing left to say3:40", in October 2021. In early 2023, after his fourth single, "Caroline×caroline15 June 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1caroline3:18", went viral, Sombr signed a record deal with Warner Records and released "Weak", his first single with the record label. In September 2023, he released his debut EP, In Another Life×in another life15 September 2023 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1burner phone3:522ivy4:073don’t let me down3:434you’re so pretty3:465why are we like this2:356silhouette4:177my house is warm3:368weak3:57, co-produced by Tony Berg. On November 17, 2023, he released the single "Would've Been You", which samples Flawed Mangoes' "The Beginning".

2025–present: Breakthrough and I Barely Know Her

On February 7, 2025 a remix of Rachel Chinouriri's song "All I Ever Asked×All I Ever Asked7 February 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1All I Ever Asked3:38" was released featuring Sombr.
In March 2025, Sombr earned widespread attention when his songs "Back to Friends×back to friends27 December 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1back to friends3:19" and "Undressed×undressed21 March 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1undressed3:02" gained popularity after going viral on the video-sharing app TikTok. The virality led to increased on-demand streams and chart appearances in several countries. The songs reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200. "Undressed" topped the Irish Singles Chart and entered the top five in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. "Back to Friends" also reached the top five in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. The songs' success led to Sombr's first major award recognition, earning three nominations at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, including Best New Artist, winning one for Best Alternative Video (for "Back to Friends"). He was also among the performers at the award ceremony on September 7, 2025.
In April 2025, having previously performed as a supporting act on tours for Nessa Barrett and Daniel Seavey, Sombr announced his first solo concert tour, set to cover North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The North American and European legs began on May 25 in Dublin and are scheduled to conclude in Los Angeles on October 28. The Australia and New Zealand legs start on December 2 in Auckland and end on December 14 in Gold Coast. Additional European dates were announced in July 2025, with performances from February to March 2026, beginning in Stockholm and concluding in Dublin.
In May 2025, Sombr was featured on Billboard's annual 21 Under 21 list. He made his live television performance debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on May 20, performing "Back to Friends". On June 3, he appeared on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, performing "Undressed" and a cover of "Ribs" by Lorde. In July, he performed "Undressed" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. Sombr has appeared on the SiriusXM and Audiotree live segments, which included covers of Mazzy Star's "Fade into You" and Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees", respectively. On June 17, 2025, Sombr announced the single "We Never Dated×we never dated20 June 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1we never dated3:17", released on June 20, which became his third top-40 hit in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. On July 25, he released the single "12 to 12×12 to 1224 July 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track112 to 124:03", accompanied by a video featuring Addison Rae. The song was another notable success for Sombr, reaching the top ten in Australia, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and becoming his third song to enter the top 50 on the Hot 100 and Global 200.
On August 11, 2025, Sombr announced his debut album, I Barely Know Her×I Barely Know Her22 August 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1crushing3:27212 to 124:033i wish i knew how to quit you3:524back to friends3:195canal street5:026dime3:467undressed3:028come closer3:149we never dated3:1710under the mat4:45, released on August 22. It includes the aforementioned four singles. It was favorably reviewed by Rolling Stone, NME, and Variety, and reached the top ten of several sales charts, including the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart. At the 68th Annual Grammy Awards Sombr was nominated for Best New Artist. On February 6, 2026, he released the single "Homewrecker×Homewrecker5 February 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Homewrecker3:29", his first release since his debut album. It peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top ten in Australia, Ireland, Latvia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, among others. On June 25, 2026, "My Body Isn't Ready" was released, which he performed live for the first time on the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on the day of its release.

Artistry

Sombr's musical genres have been described as indie rock, alternative rock, indie pop, alternative pop, and pop rock. He has cited Jeff Buckley and Radiohead as his biggest musical influences. Buckley inspired Sombr vocally, with Sombr citing "Lover, You Should've Come Over" as one of his favorite songs. His father would play OK Computer around the house during his childhood, which shaped his appreciation for alternative rock. Other artists who have inspired him include the Velvet Underground, John Lennon, David Bowie, Elton John, Billie Eilish, Brian Wilson, the Rolling Stones, Prince, Oasis, and Taylor Swift. The singer has been described as having a tenor vocal range.

Headlining

The Late Nights & Young Romance Tour (2025–2026)
You Are the Reason Tour (2026-2027)

Supporting

Daniel Seavey – Second Wind Tour (2025)
Nessa Barrett – Aftercare World Tour (2025)