A few days before Shane Michael Boose—the 20-year-old musician known as Sombr—stole the show at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards, performing his hits “Back to Friends” and “12 to 12” for his biggest—and most staggeringly starry—audience yet, he found himself in a stately room on the second floor of New York’s Nine Orchard hotel.
Enjoying some rare downtime between rehearsals, he was dressed in a navy blazer, a black T-shirt, and ripped jeans. Despite his high-pressure weekend, he’s in a cheery mood. “You’re getting happy Sombr today,” he tells me, pleasantly.
And why might that be? For one thing, he’s just met one of his rock idols at the hotel, which sits just around the corner from where Boose grew up, on New York’s Lower East Side. “It’s someone I get compared to a lot, and he said my name first,” Boose says, mimicking an English accent. “That’s one hint, but that’s all you get. I called my sister and she was like, ‘What?!’ And now I’m going to be happy all day.”
Such surreal moments have seemed to come one right after the other. Not so long ago, Boose was a LaGuardia dropout with a dream; now, in an era where guitar-driven acts are a dime a dozen, he’s managed to lodge three songs from I Barely Know Her, his recently released debut album, in the Hot 100. To celebrate the launch, he shut down the corner of Canal Street and Orchard for a free surprise show.
So, what’s it like when you suddenly get everything you want? Before Boose went back on the road for his Late Nights & Young Romance Tour, Vogue sat down with him to find out.
Vogue: You’ve had an incredible year so far. How have you been navigating it all?
Sombr: I remember a year and a half ago, I was feeling really low about the point I was at in my career. And even then, I was still so privileged—just being able to do it full-time and play shows. But at the time I made a video where I was just talking to myself and manifesting where I wanted to go. And watching that video back now, it’s so crazy, because the version of me in that video, if he found out I was anywhere near where I am today, he would fucking lose his mind. One thing I don’t understand is that artists will get to a certain point and all they’ll do is complain about how hard it is to be famous. It’s like, you are so privileged. Fucking be grateful. Obviously, every job has its hardships. Oh my God, someone recognizes you on the street—how brutal! So I try to remain super grateful, you know?