Breakthrough artist sombr has officially arrived with his much-anticipated debut album I Barely Know Her, out today via Warner Records. The 10-track project cements his meteoric rise, housing Billboard Hot 100 standouts “back to friends,” “undressed,” and “12 to 12”—all of which continue to climb across Top 40 Radio, the Global and U.S. Spotify Charts, the UK Official Singles Chart, and Alternative Radio, where sombr set a new record as the fastest-rising new artist of the past decade. Notably, his single dethroned Hozier’s year-long reign on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart, a feat that places him in a league of his own.
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Written entirely by sombr and co-produced alongside legendary producer Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, The Replacements), I Barely Know Her is a deeply personal introduction to the 20-year-old’s world. The release follows the announcement of his MTV Video Music Awards debut performance on September 7, where he’s nominated for both Best New Artist and Best Alternative Artist—a double nod that underscores his cultural impact.
And the momentum isn’t slowing down. Sombr’s sold-out North American tour kicks off next month before expanding into Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand through 2025 and 2026, with every date already spoken for.
- Sombr makes history: Becomes the fastest-rising new artist to hit #1 on Alternative Radio in the last decade, dethroning Hozier on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart.
- A debut to remember: I Barely Know Her features Hot 100 hits “back to friends,” “undressed,” and “12 to 12,” with chart dominance spanning the U.S., UK, and global platforms.
- All eyes on the VMAs: Sombr will make his award show debut at the MTV VMAs on September 7, where he’s nominated for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Artist.
- Global takeover begins: Following his sold-out North American run, sombr will hit stages across Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand through 2025–2026.
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Raised on the Lower East Side of New York City, Shane Boose, known to fans as sombr, first crafted songs in his bedroom while studying classical music at the prestigious LaGuardia High School. His breakout single “Caroline” (2022) set the internet ablaze, laying the foundation for a catalog that now boasts over 400 million monthly streams across platforms. Now based in Los Angeles, sombr continues to shape a new era of alternative pop—self-writing and co-producing every song that blends youthful romance, raw heartbreak, and genre-blurring soundscapes.
With I Barely Know Her, sombr isn’t just stepping into the spotlight—he’s redefining what the future of alternative music sounds like.
