Turning 21 is a momentous occasion for anybody, but it’s usually a time for formulating plans and getting more serious about achieving your goals. Sombr, who turns 21 on Sunday (July 5) has already achieved more than he probably ever dreamed possible.
Just this year, he performed at the Grammys, the Brit Awards and the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction gala. At the SHOF event, Taylor Swift sang his praises with a compliment that he will likely never forget – “His writing is so exceptional that it makes me actually envious, and I love that feeling.”
In December 2025, Sombr (a stage name which contains his initials SMB, for Shane Michael Boose) was the subject of a Billboard profile in which writer Andrew Unterberger concluded: “Sombr blew up quicker in 2025 than any young pop-rock star since Olivia Rodrigo, a journey that has taken him in one year’s time from an indie-skewing singer-songwriter trying to show that he could play in the majors to a proven hit-maker who counts the Recording Academy and Taylor Swift as fans.”
Related
‘People Are Just Craving Real Music’: Inside Sombr’s Ascent
Sombr’s own take on his success: “I think people are just craving real music with real instruments and real bridges and really thoughtful writing. And I think we’re headed in the right direction. I’m loving the current state of the charts right now, with Olivia Dean and RAYE and Rosalía and, you know, me! I didn’t set out to make pop songs — I initially set out to make alternative indie songs. [They] became pop songs because they were catchy.”
Sombr’s forthcoming sophomore album (set for release this fall) has already spawned three singles: “Homewrecker,” which is up to No. 16 on this week’s Hot 100, “Potential” and the just-released “My Body Isn’t Ready.”
Here are Sombr’s nine most impressive accomplishments before turning 21.