By Chloe Morris
Photo Credit: Warner Records
A complete emotional whirlwind, viral TikTok sensation Sombr (real name Shane Boose) has just released his debut album I Barely Know Her, and it tugs at your deepest emotions.
This ten-track collection features Sombr’s breakout singles, including 12 to 12 and Undressed, which catapulted the 20-year-old to fame through his raw lyricism and storytelling.
Crushing opens the album, immediately setting the emotional tone. Sombr’s echoing vocals showcase deep pain, lending the narrative incredible authenticity. His distinctive sound comes through here as well. Sombr’s tracks are pop-leaning, but they’re gritty with a modern edge. They feel fresh yet timeless.
As the album continues, there’s a striking tension between its title, I Barely Know Her, and the deeply personal stories woven into the songs. The lush, layered instrumentals – thundering drums and surging electric guitars – give the record an upbeat sheen, but beneath it all, Sombr’s vocals reveal quiet devastation; for love, loss, and longing.
One of the most impressive aspects of Sombr’s debut is that he wrote all of the tracks himself. This makes the album all the more vulnerable, and the lyrics break your heart with every listen.
Some lyrical standouts include:
“But I’m still smoking cigarettes on my couch / And it kills my mom, but it brings me back to you.”
canal street by sombr
“I miss the days when we were crushing on each other / Now you’re just crushing my soul, my lover.”
crushing by sombr
“I don’t want the children of another man / To have the eyes of the girl that I won’t forget”
undressed by sombr
Ever since sombr’s music went viral on TikTok, listeners have connected with the raw ache in his voice. I was hooked from the very first lyric. At just 20 years old, sombr stands at the beginning of what promises to be an extraordinary career.
With a UK tour on the horizon, sombr is undoubtedly one to watch, and I can’t wait to see where his talent takes him next.
Unless otherwise stated, Photography & Text Copyright 2025 © Chloe Morris/ADRENALINE Magazine.
Casey Brockbank 
Laura Amelia Bujauskaite