New York based pop singer Shane Boone, monikered ‘sombr’, achieved virality on the Tiktok platform at just 19 years old with the back-to-back singles back to friends and undressed (though in all likelihood, probably an industry plant). The former is an angsty, slow-moving and reverb-soaked trip-hop ballad (like a male, ‘Zoomer’ version of Tumbl-era Sky Ferreira). The latter is a soul-pop tune with a climbing bassline. The lyrics have all the sincerity and profundity of Pinterest captions – nonetheless, uniquely produced and professionally composed (with harmonically complex bridge parts), The vocal makes use of a vocoder as well as some delay and reverb to craft a hazy, digital atmosphere. The full-length album, co-produced by ‘industry guru’ Tony Berg looks to capitalise on the hype.
Crushing coasts in on thick drums and bass and wrought crooning. 12 to 12 is the clear pop highlight, a slick nu-disco dance track (a la Foals, tame Impala, etc, derived from disco music of the 70s) with a tight pulsing beat. The swinging techno-motif i wish i knew how to quit you recalls Tears For Fears. dime attempts a blues-rock shuffle (a la Florence & The Machine) but the epic chorus is a little bit unearned. Come Closer recalls 2000s dance-rock with driving drums while we never dated pays homage AM-era Arctic Monkeys with falsetto soul choruses over sleek funk-rock instrumentation. under the mat swings for Springsteen by way of the Killers with a rolling rhythm and touches of xylopohone.
If you can ignore the lyrics, theres certainly an accomplished tunefulness behind the album. However, sombr leans a little too much on his bridges and his key changes which can’t always save the music from bad taste or average ideas. Outside of that, the songs are often derivative, melodramatic and overwrought.
Released: August 22, 2025
Label: SMB, Warner
Losing My Edge Rating: 5/10
Best Tracks: 12 to 12, back to friends