REVIEW: sombr’s Debut Album ‘I Barely Know Her’ Unites Yearners Through Vulnerability
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY NINA KUDLACZ ☆
From making music in his bedroom to selling out tour dates, indie artist sombr has come a long way.
The New York City native, who is now based in LA, first went viral for his single “caroline” back in June of 2022. Now with 55 million monthly listeners, sombr is finally gaining recognition for his expressive songs and indisputable talent.
sombr released his debut album, I Barely Know Her, on August 22, along with four singles in the nine months prior to the album release.
The popularity of the four singles predicted the album would be an immediate success, which was later proved true by the numbers it did after its release.
The breakout album was co-produced by Tony Berg, though written entirely by sombr himself, who also plays keyboard, guitar, bass and drums on nearly every track.
Despite each song’s pop structure, sombr embraces indie rock sounds on the album.
The first track, "crushing," evokes a visceral reaction in listeners off the bat. Sombr showcases his incredible rhyming talent and features a soul-crushing bridge, on par with many of his other songs.
Track number two, "12 to 12," was released as the album’s final single on July 24. The sultry single boasts disco influences - the music video even stars Addison Rae on a disco dancefloor.
“i wish i knew how to quit you” is the third track on the album, and shows off sombr’s incredible vocals while he admits his inability to get over a past love through tragic lyrics.
The first single off the album and the fourth track, “back to friends,” was released late in December of last year. The song has over 704 million streams after blowing up on TikTok since its release.
The instrumental climax during the bridge combined with the raw lyrics of a perplexing and disheartening post-breakup reality created a single that clearly resonated with many.
The five minute-long piano ballad "canal street" cuts the album in half and listeners hearts in two with its lyrics that long for a life sombr once lived with a past lover. He sings to her, telling her he’s tried to move on but nothing compares to her. The gut-wrenching guitar solo in the bridge precisely captures the feelings sombr is experiencing.
Track six, "dime," picks things back up again. The song features sombr yearning over a girl, even begging to get through to her, over an upbeat percussion-heavy instrumental.
The second single and seventh track, “undressed,” was released in March. The relatable lyrics make it the album’s second most popular song, with 428 million streams on Spotify. The lyrics explore not wanting to start over in a relationship, especially knowing all you want is the one you previously had. The track features an absolutely iconic baseline and beautifully calculated harmonies, especially in the bridge.
“come closer” is lustful in style, lyrics and production. The king of bridges, sombr lays lyrics about wanting all or nothing with someone over a sensual, suggestive track.
Released in late June, the third single “we never dated” is captivating on all accounts. Another song of his with a prevalent bassline and heavenly harmonies, “we never dated” proves sombr’s raw, undeniable talent. The song’s a capella outro gracefully transitions into the album's final song.
“under the mat” begins with an alluring, soulful intro before the devastating prechorus and chorus hit. There is no other way to describe this song other than sick and twisted. With lyrics so painful yet true, “under the mat” may go down in history as one of the best breakup songs and album outro.
From top to bottom, “I Barely Know Her” displays vulnerable, unfiltered emotions over prominent and elegantly crafted instrumentals. sombr’s Spotify bio reads “late nights and young romance,” a vibe perfectly captured in the album.
His unserious nature on social media is quite the juxtaposition to the devastating themes his music displays. Even the album name is a play on words of the “I hardly know her” joke. sombr bridges the gap between goofiness and grief, aligning with a generation of youth who can’t take themselves seriously.
In his fourth year of making music, sombr’s success has soared. Though breakup albums often feel lonely, sombr’s “I Barely Know Her” unites those who resonate with it through its relatability. The album encapsulates feelings of love, loss and youth and proves that sombr’s talent spans beyond his years.
