Words by Marios Stamos

Sombr’s long-awaited debut album is finally here, and we may have the new main Gen Z pop boy on the scene.

Ballads and bops. Intimacy and vulnerability. Indie rock production mixed with modern pop. And reverb, lots of reverb. This has left fans divided, but I personally found it enjoyable

Is there a point in being with someone if neither of you is fully enamoured with the other? Absolutely not, according to Sombr. The album’s theme is clear: half-measures in love aren’t enough. Yes, it’s going to hurt if things go sour, but who even likes lukewarm affection anyway?

Sombr, born Shane Boose, doesn’t shy away from the messy parts of love: the longing, the unrequited moments, the painful memories you don’t want to let go of. Every track feels honest, whether it’s a ballad like the standout “Canal Street,” viral sensations like “Back to Friends” and “Undressed,” or catchy bops like “Come Closer” and “Under the Mat.”

Sombr writes all his tracks and co-produced nearly every song with veteran producer Tony Berg, except for “Back to Friends” and “We Never Dated,” which Shane produced entirely on his own.

What makes this debut so compelling is how universal and relatable these experiences are: the ache of wanting someone who isn’t entirely yours, the fear of being forgotten and left behind. This is a painfully realistic record that shows how one person’s absence can haunt every place and every face you come across.