It’s Sombr, baby! Everything you need to know about the debut album, “I Barely Know Her.”

The Cover of "I Barely Know Her." Offstage Exposure does not own this image, credit to the original creator.

What seems like a star-studded new artist debut has been a long time in the making. Suddenly skyrocketing into the global top 40 with multiple hit singles, Sombr rolls out his debut album, “I Barely Know Her.” An addictive pop sound with disco and rock infusions and overall themes of yearning for romance makes this record stand out in a fabulously unique way. 

Sombr’s history of music releases began in 2021, but it wasn’t until this current year when he got national and global attention. His most popular singles, “Back to Friends” and “Undressed,” which went viral on Tiktok earlier in 2025, claimed #1 spots faster than any new artist in the past decade. Rising into stardom so quickly comes with its advantages, including a sold-out North American tour, and additional global tour dates set for 2026.

Now, what makes this album so unique? Why is it bound to debut in the top 10? The incredible ability to create an album with such a cohesive sound - yet every track has its own special uniqueness to it. All tracks on this album were written by Sombr himself, and produced by Tony Berg, and it is so clear that this is an artist who knows his identity within music, and where he fits in. He was filling a gap that we didn’t know pop music had. Layered vocals and dreamy, nostalgic sounds cater directly to his Gen Z audience, which has been devouring every single Sombr has released prior to the album release. 

Upon listening to the album, I can only compare these songs to the feeling that you get while listening to “End of Beginning” by Djo. The constant rumination and tossing and turning about the “what ifs.” Every track is crafted carefully, and the speed in which this album was released is quite impressive, but no quality was compromised. This doesn’t feel like an album pushed out to feed the masses. In 2025, we’ve seen several new stars rise in a matter of months, but the quality of Sombr’s singles and album  is a testament to how important it is to form your identity as an artist. If your identity is something that can be connected with, then the music that flows will resonate with your audience. Sombr doesn’t deliver an over-the-top pop star look, complete with glitter and massive production value. Sure, the spectacle can be nice, but it’s clear that what the pop world is craving right now is relatability. August 22nd, 2025 marks the beginning of this album, and the beginning of an extremely promising career for Sombr. Besides the huge achievement of releasing “I Barely Know Her,” he has also been nominated as Best New Artist and Best Alternative for his single “Back To Friends” for the VMA Awards. He is set to be performing at the awards show September 7th, and we are so excited to see all he has in store for his audiences.