For someone who claims they barely know them, sombr lets his familiarity with heartbreak speak for itself. sombr, the project of rising singer-songwriter Shane Boose, released his debut album, I Barely Know Her, on Aug. 22 after the success of his chart-climbing singles, “back to friends,” “undressed,” and “12 to 12.”
The 20-year-old breakthrough artist proves to be a music powerhouse time and time again, introducing himself as a force that can sell out shows and flood social media platforms with his catchy, relatable songs. After gaining rapid traction in just a short amount of time, sombr has become a household name in the 2025 alternative pop world, unearthing his raw talent through game-changing music.
sombr’s meticulous way of storytelling with nothing but vulnerability invites listeners into a space of connection, a world where one can find comfort in similar experiences of heartbreak and young romance threaded into his music. I Barely Know Her was entirely written by sombr, introducing another layer of transparency worn by this emotionally in-touch artist.
Along with writing it himself, sombr co-produced this album, collaborating with renowned producer Tony Berg, who has worked with big-name artists like Phoebe Bridgers and The Replacements.
The 10-track album begins with the perfect attention-grabber, “crushing.” sombr uses vocal effects mixed with his signature ethereal instrument-background vocal combo to support his reminiscent spirals, deepest worries, and resurfacing cravings in a poetic, diary-entry style. “12 to 12,” the second track on the album, steals the spotlight, presenting itself as a heartbreak anthem and dance opportunity all in one. The line, “In a room full of people I look for you / Would you avoid me, or would you look for me too?” firmly expresses his overarching desire for answers that would seemingly make his own haunting feelings for this person feel secure.
In the third track, “i wish i knew how to quit you,” sombr’s cry for help is loud and clear. As his addiction to this past love grows and grows, he admits that it’s consuming him and negatively impacting his health. The song features a drum pattern that almost mimics a fast beating heart, symbolizing the lingering love that never seems to go away, even with time. “back to friends,” the single that started this new era for sombr, acts as the glue in the album, holding all the tracks together and tying into this central idea of losing someone and being unable to accept the fact that they’re actually gone.
“canal street” slows the album down, as sombr takes the time to reminisce on the resurfacing memories shared with this ideal person who cannot be replaced or replicated. This ballad, with upbeat building moments, features a bridge in the form of a controlled breakdown in which sombr demands to know if the love was equal on both ends or simply one-sided.
With a captivating vocal performance and an intriguing drum beat, “dime” adds a little edge to the album. The repetitive yet catchy pre-chorus, “Can I get it through to you? / Can I get it through to you?” serves as the buildup to sombr’s powerful delivery of the line “We can be more than friends,” followed by the rest of the fleeting chorus.
After the drum gets its moment on “dime,” the essential bassline takes over in “undressed,” one of sombr’s singles that provides a familiar break in between a sequence of new tracks. “come closer” and “we never dated” are sonically intertwined, both featuring a similar structure, a digestible pre-chorus and chorus, that serve as a continuation of the album’s theme of the complex struggle with a young love.
Although “under the mat” is the last track, it by no means provides a conclusion to the narrative. It rather serves as a “To Be Continued,” as opposed to a “The End” of I Barely Know Her. Much like in the other tracks on the album, sombr cannot make sense of all that’s coming at him, although he tries.
The lack of clarity in these situations seems to obstruct his desire to take action, fearing he will be met with failure if he does. The chorus, “She locked the door, but she left the key under the mat / Oh, and I’ve known this for a while, but I am still too afraid to act / Oh, and it’s coming off the hinges, from the wall, it has detached / Oh, and I’ve known this for a while, but I’m still too afraid to act,” perfectly explains the passiveness that fills sombr while under this pressure of uncertainty. As sombr watches this all go down, he still can’t find himself acting but rather chooses familiarity, remaining in the comfort of his own head.
I Barely Know Her attempts to make sense of the consuming haze of a young love gone wrong, a task that has proved itself to be close to impossible. This album floats between the push and pull, the acceptance and denial of heartbreak, showing all of its sharp edges with vulnerability and forgoing any glorification. Serving as a confrontational piece to the internal conflict of heartbreak, I Barely Know Her avoids straying from reflection and dissection.
sombr is bringing I Barely Know Her on the road with his The Late Nights and Young Romance Tour North America 2025 starting Sept. 21. Tickets are available here.
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