Sombr

Sombr croons from a photo booth to glitter and chest-licks at 2025 MTV VMAs

Sombr lands at the 2025 MTV VMAs with a swagger-drenched medley of "Back to Friends" and "12 to 12," pulled from his debut I Barely Know Her. He begins crooning from inside a photo booth before joining his band in what resembles a dive-bar staging of a New York rock night.

Reappearing in a sharper register for "12 to 12," he’s met by a gaggle of onstage admirers—one of whom licks his chest—before a glittery breakdown unfolds beneath him. The moment secures his win for best alternative and parades two Hot 100 entries.

Sombr's Theater Leap: Two Hits, One Album, and a Tour That Won't Sit Still

Sombr, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter from New York, vaults from intimate clubs to sold-out theaters through 2025, riding the wave of two Billboard Hot 100 hits and a debut album peaking at No. 10. His North American headlining tour expands rapidly, forcing last-minute venue upgrades and extra dates, all while keeping original ticket holders satisfied.

UTA’s John “JT” Taylor orchestrates the swift logistical pivot, crediting deft digital strategy and a fan-first ethos. With over 100,000 tickets sold across continents, Sombr prepares for SNL, Australia shows, and a full-scale European run including three nights at Brixton and Dublin’s 3Arena.

Sombr suits up for SNL with “12 to 12” and piano ballad “Back to Friends”

Sombr takes the Studio 8H stage for his Saturday Night Live debut, delivering “12 to 12” in a tailored red suit with a full band before returning to the piano for an understated yet emotionally taut rendition of “Back to Friends.”

The 20-year-old songwriter, also known as Shane Boose, performs selections from his debut LP I Barely Know Her, which climbed to No. 10 on the Billboard 200 in September and spun off three Hot 100 entries.

Now Grammy-nominated for best new artist, he just closed a 31-date North American tour where venues scrambled to meet demand, ending with a sold-out New York finale.

Sombr shrugs off mystery with debut album 'I Barely Know Her'—8 tracks deep

Sombr follows a breakthrough year with the announcement of her debut album, I Barely Know Her. The record lines up six new tracks alongside the already circulating singles “We Never Dated” and “Back to Friends.”

Threaded with emotional near-misses and second-chance platitudes, the titles suggest a narrative preoccupied with transitions—romantic, personal, or otherwise—in an era when oversharing is currency and mystique is rare.