The Late Night Vibes and Young Romance of Rising Star, sombr
Shane Michael Boose, known by his stage name sombr, has made quite the splash in the indie-rock scene. His new song, 12 to 12, gained over 6.2 million streams in just two days and landed the cover spot of Spotify’s Singled Out playlist, a compilation of the 40 hottest singles of the week. Sombr shot to public acclaim thanks to TikTok, but to those without an affinity for the clock app, he seems to have crawled to the top undetected and isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Sombr released his debut single, nothing left to say, in 2021 and his first EP, in another life, in 2023, but his virality and fame didn’t sprout until March 2025. His singles back to friends and undressed gained overnight TikTok popularity, leading to a year that has so far been filled with accomplishments and achievements.
At just 20 years old, sombr has already been featured on Billboard’s 21 Under 21 list, made his television debut with a performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Falon, recorded live in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, topped both the US and global Spotify charts, released several songs with accompanying music videos, and is currently headlining his first global tour, among others.
It’s clear sombr’s dreamy and romantic sounds are trendy, but not in the annoying way that most viral songs are. With incredible vocals filled with crackling peaks and smooth valleys, his songs are easy to listen to. His lyrics are reminiscent of b-roll in teen movies and tears falling on diary entries, of first loves and first heartbreaks, of teen angst and blossoming sensuality. His shy yet charismatic appearance and vintage style makes him extremely likable and slots him beside Harry Styles, Conan Gray, Troye Sivan and the like, all household names in the indie-rock/ alt-pop genre with similar vibes.
His most recent release, 12 to 12, has amplified his streams, slingshotting him to the 53rd most listened to Spotify artist in the world, surpassing not only all three previously mentioned artists, but also the über-popular chart-toppers Chappel Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, and Hozier. Considering sombr has achieved such global recognition in such a short amount of time without a single album to his name is only a testament to his genuine talent and charm. The choice to include fellow artist and internet personality, Addison Rae, in the 12 to 12 music video has added an element of unpredictability to his image, the two fan bases blending together in comment sections to applaud and support the unexpected collaboration.
Sombr’s Late Nights and Young Romance Tour will make a stop in Phoenix on October 31, with general admission floor tickets for The Van Buren starting at $150 per ticket, a price-point significantly higher than the venue average of $89. Despite the high ticket prices, his shows at other venues have “sold out instantly”, so it’s likely Arizona will show their support and follow suit.
