It’s onerous sufficient for many artists to search out one breakout hit, not to mention two surging up the Billboard charts in tandem. However for 19-year-old alt-rock artist born Shane Boose, he’s struck gold in current months: The piano-forward “Again to Pals” grew to become his first Billboard Hot 100 entry on April 12; and only a week later, he added a second due to the pop-leaning “Undressed.” The previous single arrived within the ultimate days of 2024 earlier than in the end accruing its following this spring, whereas the latter got here out as the excitement began to take maintain.
“‘Again to Pals’ was simply beginning to see some success [when I created ‘Undressed’], which I feel made me a bit extra assured with the music I used to be making,” says Sombr.
And because the hits proceed to develop — with “Again to Pals” spending a 3rd week at No. 1 on Alternative Airplay and “Undressed” climbing again as much as No. 29 on the Hot 100 — so have Sombr’s levels. Following just a few competition dates this summer season, he’ll start a North American leg of The Late Nights & Younger Romance Tour throughout the nation, together with a number of dates with venue upgrades which have since bought out. He’ll then spherical out the yr performing in Australia and New Zealand.
“I like assembly new individuals in new international locations on daily basis and I’m glad that these songs have given me the power to take action,” he says. “Street life is a life I need to stay for a really very long time.”
Beneath, the singer-songwriter displays on making “Undressed,” how his hits have impacted the stakes when releasing new music, potential Grammy buzz and extra.
How was “Undressed” created?
I made “Undressed” late one night time after I was feeling not so good, as I really feel after I create my favourite songs. I began by producing some drums and laying these down on the observe, after which I recorded that guitar bassline that you simply hear in that intro and all through the tune. From there, I recorded that guitar riff within the intro and post-chorus. (Sings.)
It’s not on daily basis that I pay attention again to a melody that I’ve made and actually really feel what I felt. From there, the primary verse, the refrain and the second verse got here very simply — it was all completed that very same night time. The subsequent day I produced out the remaining a bit of bit extra; I wrote the bridge in about 5 minutes and recorded that. I had about 75% of a manufacturing — all of the vocals are recorded, all of the guitars are recorded, the drums are recorded.
I leaked the tune on-line, and it was the best preliminary response I’ve ever had from a leak. The tune wasn’t even completed but, so we needed to scramble. I introduced it into Sound Metropolis [Studios] in Van Nuys, [Calif.] to my wonderful collaborator Tony Berg. We did ending touches there, added some atmospheric stuff, made the drums hit tougher, made the transitions movement — a whole lot of synths within the bridge. Once we listened again, I knew we had one thing particular.
Your two largest hits are exploding concurrently, with “Again To Pals” spending a 3rd week at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Various Airplay chart this week. As somebody who has been releasing music for a number of years already, how did you put together for this type of second?
There’s nothing that may put together you for one thing like this. It’s completely unreal. As a child, rising up with various music, raised by various music, it seems like a dream to be No. 1 at various radio and have these songs transferring into pop. Actually, it’s all so new to me, I don’t actually know navigate it and I’m nonetheless figuring it out — however one factor I do know is that I’m so honored. [I’m] taking it day-to-day, and all I need to do is take this platform that I’ve been given and make extra — as a lot as I can till I drop useless.
You’re touring all through 2025, together with dates with venue upgrades. What have been your largest takeaways from life on the street?
It’s essentially the most enjoyable life expertise an artist can undergo. In case you’re an artist, I extremely urge you to attempt to tour at one level in your profession. I’m so grateful to be enjoying exhibits, whether or not it’s a venue improve or the smallest room in a metropolis. It’s what I like to do. However the street additionally has down sides: It may be lonely in a unique resort room in a unique mattress each night time. You may disassociate, however then that hour that you simply’re onstage at all times seems like the perfect hour you’ve had in your life but — till you do it once more the following night time.
What’s the wildest factor that has occurred at a present thus far?
Me chipping my tooth not as soon as however twice at two separate exhibits — and one among them was the day after I received my tooth fastened, which is simply loopy. I hope to have many extra of these within the coming years as a result of which means I’m doing a whole lot of touring, and that’s what I like to do.
What do conversations surrounding new music sound like proper now?
There’s at all times part of having “hits” that places strain on you, however I attempt to block that out. Each time I’m feeling it, I keep in mind why I received into it and why I made these songs. I didn’t make them to have hits; I made them as a result of I used to be feeling one thing and I wanted an escape. I wanted to pour my ideas and emotions out, and after I put them out, I obtained so many messages and folks telling me after exhibits that the music has been therapeutic for them, which is precisely what it was for me.
I don’t assume the music I’ve made will impression the album, actually. I feel the music I’ve made has undoubtedly given me the boldness to do what I need and make what I really feel is true to myself as a result of that’s what these songs have been. I can’t say a lot, however there’s undoubtedly an album on the horizon.
Although it’s solely June, it’s by no means too early to start out speculating about Grammy buzz for 2026. Have you ever given any thought to your title being in the perfect new artist dialog?
It’s a giant praise to even be requested that or part of that dialog, however I haven’t actually put a lot thought into it, to be sincere. If I have been to obtain a nomination, it might be a terrific honor. However I’m simply making music and taking it day-to-day.
A model of this story seems within the June 21, 2025, challenge of Billboard.