Sombr reveals his future career plans. Credit to Bryce Gleen.
Los Angeles, California (April 29, 2025)- Shane Boose, the artist behind the moniker Sombr, is experiencing a breakthrough moment that has every corner of the music world buzzing. A lover of alternative music with a deep connection to the genre’s pioneers, Boose’s sound is a reflection of his eclectic taste — he cites Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Phoebe Bridgers, and The 1975 as his musical idols. This influence is clear in his fast-rising hits “Back to Friends” and “Undressed,” two songs that have bridged the gap between alt-pop and mainstream pop, capturing the attention of both indie lovers and pop music enthusiasts.
Boose’s 19-year-old career is taking off at an incredible pace. This week, “Back to Friends” saw a massive leap on the Billboard Hot 100, jumping 14 spots to No. 56, while “Undressed” surged 12 spots to No. 84. The hits are not just taking over the pop charts — they’ve also made their mark on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, with “Back to Friends” cracking the top 10 at No. 9 and “Undressed” landing at No. 13. The two tracks have also earned a significant presence on streaming platforms, with “Back to Friends” reaching over 40 million on-demand streams and “Undressed” notching 19.5 million.
Sombr’s recent success on the charts is a testament to his unique blend of musical styles. His sound merges indie-rock, alt-pop, and electronic elements, creating a sound that feels both nostalgic and entirely fresh. And as Sombr continues to garner massive attention, he remains grounded in the process of creating music. Reflecting on the numbers and the crowd size at his recent performances, he admits, “They 100 percent break my brain,” referring to the wild success of his songs. “It’s all happening so fast, and seeing the increase in crowd size every show has been amazing. I’ve never gotten to visualize it while it was happening in real time.”
Boose’s journey to stardom began in the Lower East Side of New York City, where he attended the prestigious LaGuardia High School and honed his vocal skills while experimenting with music production on GarageBand and Logic. His debut single, “Caroline,” was an accidental viral hit after being posted to TikTok in 2022. “Caroline” showcased a sparse, haunting folk style influenced by artists like Bon Iver, and within hours of posting it, the song was trending. That viral success led to a record deal with Warner Records and set the stage for what would come next.
Following a string of singles that didn’t quite capture the same magic as “Caroline,” Sombr found his breakthrough with “Back to Friends,” a song that mixes dramatic piano chords, atmospheric shakers, and fuzzed-out vocals that evoke a sense of post-hookup vulnerability. The release of “Undressed” in March only solidified his new direction: an alt-pop sound with slightly swaggering beats, a stark contrast to the more ballad-oriented tracks of his earlier work. Sombr is clearly not interested in staying in one lane. “Before ‘Back to Friends,’ all my music was very ballad-y — there was nothing with a beat. I was so tired of that. I wanted my shows to be more exciting,” he says.
This past tour with Daniel Seavey across the U.S. was a major milestone in Sombr’s career. The sold-out performances were a reminder of how far he’s come, and the excitement continues with an upcoming European tour with Nessa Barrett in May. Following that, he’s preparing for a fall headlining tour in North America, where pre-sale tickets sold out within minutes, further cementing his rise in the music industry.
As for the future, Sombr’s debut album is on the horizon, though he’s savoring the moment. “The last show in New York, it was the loudest it’s ever been. It’s getting wild, and I love it. It’s all I’ve ever wanted,” he says, reflecting on his meteoric rise in real-time. With “Back to Friends” and “Undressed” at the forefront of his success, Sombr is showing no signs of slowing down, and he’s ready to make his mark as one of the most exciting new artists of this generation.
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