SOMBR BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

sombr, 21, is the Gen Z breakout who went from bedroom recordings on New York City's Lower East Side to the Billboard top 10 — and to the 2026 VMAs stage, where he opened the George Michael tribute at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Image: Drew de F Fawkes, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Early Life

sombr was born Shane Michael Boose on July 5, 2005, in New York City. He was raised on the city's Lower East Side by his parents, Bennah Serfaty and Andy Boose, who worked in HIV/AIDS prevention and advocacy; his father is a former musician turned events producer. He has a younger sister, Amelie.

sombr attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School as a vocal major before leaving school, and he started making music on GarageBand in middle school.

Career

sombr released his debut single, "Nothing Left to Say," in October 2021 at age 16. His song "Caroline" went viral on TikTok in 2022, and he signed with Warner Records in early 2023, launching his own imprint SMB. His debut EP, In Another Life, arrived in September 2023, co-produced with Tony Berg.

Released on December 27, 2024, "back to friends" exploded on TikTok in March 2025 alongside "undressed," earning sombr his first Billboard Hot 100 entry on April 12, 2025. The song peaked at No. 7 on the Hot 100 in January 2026 after a nine-month climb, spent 52 consecutive weeks on the chart, reached the top 20 of the Billboard Global 200, and went platinum or higher in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, and New Zealand.

His debut album, I Barely Know Her, followed on August 22, 2025 via SMB/Warner — a 10-track record written entirely by sombr and co-produced with Tony Berg. It peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, reached the top five in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden, and the top 10 in the UK and Canada, spawning the singles "back to friends," "undressed," "We Never Dated," and "12 to 12."

sombr won Best Alternative Video for "back to friends" at the 2025 VMAs, earning three nominations including Best New Artist, and received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist at the 68th Grammy Awards. He writes and produces all of his own music. For the words behind the songs, check out the lyrics to "back to friends" and the lyrics to "My Body Isn't Ready".

2026 & Recent Highlights

"back to friends" peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2026, capping a nine-month climb with 52 consecutive weeks on the chart. On February 6, 2026, sombr released the single "Homewrecker," accompanied by a Western-themed video co-starring Quenlin Blackwell and Milo Manheim.

On September 27, 2026, he took the stage at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles to open the George Michael tribute at the VMAs, performing "Faith" and "Father Figure" while wearing Michael's actual 1988 Faith-tour leather motorcycle jacket — introduced by Orville Peck. Read our full coverage of how RAYE, sombr, Teddy Swims and Adam Lambert honored George Michael at the 2026 VMAs.

Watch: sombr - back to friends (official video)

FAQ

Q: What is sombr's real name?
A: sombr's real name is Shane Michael Boose.

Q: How old is sombr?
A: sombr was born on July 5, 2005, in New York City, which makes him 21 years old.

Q: What are sombr's biggest songs?
A: His biggest songs are "back to friends," "undressed," "We Never Dated," and "12 to 12." "back to friends" peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Q: What label is sombr signed to?
A: sombr is signed to Warner Records and releases music through his own imprint, SMB.