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The Alternative Journal
Sombr, a new, rising musical artist, released his debut album “I Barely Know Her” last month, on Aug. 22, 2025, and sent serious shockwaves through the music world. The album featured 10 unforgettable songs and Sombr’s outstanding vocals that drew in real success and popularity for Sombr and his music career.
Although he is best known as Sombr, his real name is Shane Michael Boose. He first adopted the stage name “Sombr” for the release of his debut single, “Nothing Left to Say.” It was a clever idea because it combines his initials, S.M.B., and he claims it reflected his mental state at the time.
The songs on the album “I Barely Know Her” are centered around young love, vulnerability and heartbreak, evoking a heartwrenching feel throughout the tracklist. Certain tracks focus on heartbreak and loss, while others represent themes of love and longing or self-reflection.
The first track of the album is “crushing,” a song highlighting the bittersweetness of nostalgia and heartbreak. Sombr sings about someone he had loved who had moved on to someone else. The lyrics portray the intense emotions he felt and the inability to recover from such a loss.
Track two, “12 to 12,” is one of my personal favorites. It’s super catchy and gets stuck in your head, making you sing it all day long. The song is about the consuming feeling you get when you think about a past love, and the desire to search for this forgotten connection. Common themes represented in the lyrics include confusion, heartbreak, and desperate longing.
“i wish i knew how to quit you” is the third track, a song that focuses on the intense emotional despair and turmoil that comes with a one-sided relationship. Sombr expresses the feeling of being in a toxic relationship, and his lyrics reflect the absolute angst that results from that. It is a heartbreaking song to listen to, but a very well-crafted one, making it enjoyable to listen to.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
The fourth track is “back to friends,” a song that rose to popularity on social media platforms even before the full album was released. This song explores the pain and confusion of going from sharing intimate moments with someone to acting like it never happened. It’s a complex and compelling song that I find myself having on repeat.
Track five is called “canal street.” This particular track is about remembering a person and a place, but most importantly, the time spent together. It is about not being able to forget those past memories and feelings.
“dime” is the sixth track of the album, and it is about one-sided love and wanting a deeper connection with someone. It explores the feeling of being insignificant or temporary to another person. Sombr uses the metaphor of a dime, representing someone less than the ideal person.
Track seven is “undressed,” a tuneful song that popped up on many people's For You Pages before Sombr dropped this album. This song touches on the emotional mess someone is left in after a breakup, feeling reluctant to move on.
The eighth track, “come closer,” is about the struggle of feeling only partially loved. The song is more upbeat compared to others on the album, having a special flair to it. There is a more hopeful tone to this track, uplifting the vibe from some of the previous songs.
“we never dated,” the ninth track, is one of the best songs on the album, in my opinion. It portrays the confusion of feeling a connection with someone you were never even in a relationship with. It’s a super catchy tune that gets stuck in your head within seconds, definitely worth the listen.
Sombr concludes “I Barely Know Her,” with the final track “under the mat.” This is another one of my top picks. It’s another catchy song that has you singing along. Sombr’s incredible vocals, combined with great lyrics, make for one amazing song.
Overall, Sombr’s album “I Barely Know Her” is awarded a 9/10 from me, in terms of musicality and entertainment. I catch myself listening to this album on repeat, often playing it when I need to focus or study, but also when I just want something to sing along to. Sombr has shown tremendous growth throughout his career, and this album is another step in the right direction; I can’t wait to see where he’ll go from here.
Superstar Magazine
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