SOMBR? I BARELY KNOW HER!

Social media phenom sombr’s most viewed TikTok is simple: alone in a dimly lit room, he lipsyncs to his song “back to friends” as the lyrics appear on screen. It was through casual videos like this that the New York City native Shane Boose first went viral. While his path to stardom started with his 2022 single “caroline,” which got him signed to Warner Records and led to him dropping out of high school after his junior year, it wasn’t until his songs “back to friends” and “undressed” made it big on social media that he achieved mainstream popularity. The 20-year-old’s millions of views on TikTok have translated to hundreds of millions of streams, top 40 positions on the Billboard Hot 100, and top 20 positions on the Billboard Global 200.

With the release of his debut album I Barely Know Her on August 22, sombr got the chance to prove himself beyond hit singles and internet hype—as he sings on “dime,” “Just want the chance to show you I got more than charm.”

For most of I Barely Know Her, sombr builds on the same mixture of pop and rock that powered his breakthrough singles. Crunchy guitars, pounding percussion, strong basslines, and pulsating rhythms combine to create catchy and bold tracks with a distinct alternative edge. The production uses reverb and distortion effects to build gritty, immersive soundscapes as sombr almost shouts with his brash voice to lament unrequited love and long for his ex’s return. The album risks monotony as these same sonic fundamentals appear in almost every song, but each track’s specific hooks and arrangements add enough energy and variety to the music to keep the album engaging through its 37-minute runtime.

The album’s repetitive nature falters most in its lyrics. Almost every song is about sombr yearning for someone he can’t have, most often the aforementioned ex. Unfortunately, sombr doesn’t quite have the songwriting ability to turn this affected heartbreak into something that stands out in the long history of breakup music. Instead of bringing variety or original insights to the well-trodden topic of breakups, sombr mostly just says “I miss her” in ten slightly different ways. For example, on “i wish i knew how to quit you,” he sings, “you were never mine, but I was always yours.” Six tracks later, he essentially repeats that line on “we never dated,” when he asks, “why do you always leave me achin’ / when you were never mine for the takin’?” This lyrical weakness takes center stage in “canal street,” a sprawling, stripped-back five-minute ballad that drags on rather than resonates as he yet again complains about his lost ex. For the rest of I Barely Know Her, however, sombr’s strong production and infectious melodies make up for the underwhelming and monotonous lyrics.

While his tried-and-true style yields decent tracks, sombr reaches greatness only when he reaches out of his comfort zone. In “12 to 12,” sombr trades his rock influences for disco, creating a shining, energetic track that might just be my favorite song of the year. Its glittering synths, intense percussion, and soaring melodies come together to create an exuberant earworm that demands to be played on repeat. “come closer” nears the pop energy of “12 to 12” but retains enough of sombr’s characteristic rock influences to give it a distinct sound with its guitar and synth textures and steady, subtly addictive rhythm. “come closer” is also one of the very few moments on the album that has a different lyrical theme. Instead of his typical angst over a one-sided relationship, sombr describes the push-and-pull of a more complex dynamic as he asks his lover to “come closer or stay away.” For once, he isn’t singing about a relationship that has ended—rather, he wants his current partner to either match his effort or leave. For the most part, I Barely Know Her plays it safe, but when sombr takes risks, they’re well-worth it.

At only 20, sombr has already proven himself capable of making hit songs from scratch. He wrote the album and produced “back to friends” and “we never dated” himself, while the rest he co-produced with industry veteran Tony Berg. With just one album, sombr has already established a strong foundation with plenty of room to grow. With more experience and some tighter songwriting, he’ll hopefully be able to make his occasional flashes of brilliance a more substantial part of his discography.

INDY

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Meggy Mani is a junior in the College studying Government and minoring in English.