You’ve probably heard the joke a thousand times. Someone mentions a word like "liquor," and some guy in the back shouts, "Liquor? I barely know her!" It’s a classic, slightly annoying dad joke that’s been floating around the internet and dive bars for decades. But in 2025, that punchline took on a completely different meaning when an artist named sombr used it as the title for one of the most raw, gut-wrenching albums of the decade.
I Barely Know Her isn't just a meme. Honestly, it’s a masterclass in Gen-Z yearning.
Shane Boose, the kid behind the sombr project, didn't choose that title just to be funny. Well, maybe a little. He’s got that self-aware, Matty Healy-adjacent irony where he likes to wrap heavy stuff in a bit of a joke. But the real weight behind I Barely Know Her is the feeling of looking at someone you once loved—someone who knew your deepest secrets—and realizing they are now a total stranger.
The Story Behind Sombr’s Rise
Shane didn't just appear out of nowhere, though it kinda feels like it if you weren't on TikTok in 2022. He was a vocal major at LaGuardia High School in New York—the "Fame" school—but he ended up dropping out. Why? Because a song he wrote in his bedroom called "Caroline" absolutely exploded.
By the time he was 20, he was already hitting billions of streams.
When I Barely Know Her dropped on August 22, 2025, through Warner Records, it felt like the culmination of all that "bedroom pop" energy turning into something much bigger. He moved from the Lower East Side to LA and started working with Tony Berg. If you don't know Tony, he’s the guy who worked with Phoebe Bridgers. You can hear that influence everywhere. It's polished, but it still sounds like someone crying in their car at 2 AM.
The album isn't just a collection of songs. It’s a 10-track diary of a "situationship" that went south. You know the type. You never officially dated, but the breakup hurts worse than a three-year relationship.
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Breaking Down the Tracklist
If you're diving into the album for the first time, you have to start with "12 to 12." It’s basically the centerpiece. It’s got this weird, funky disco vibe that makes you want to dance, but the lyrics are devastating. He asks, "In a room full of people I look for you / Would you avoid me, or would you look for me too?"
It hits that universal fear of seeing an ex in public.
Then there’s "crushing." It’s the opener and sets the mood perfectly. It’s about that shift from "crushing" on someone to them "crushing" your soul. It’s clever, maybe a bit on the nose, but sombr sells it with his vocals.
The track "i wish i knew how to quit you" is another heavy hitter. It treats love like a physical addiction. The drum pattern actually mimics a fast-beating heart. It’s stressful to listen to, but in a way that feels incredibly authentic to how anxiety feels.
Why the Title "I Barely Know Her" Matters
During an interview with Zane Lowe, Shane explained that the title reflects the distance that grows after a breakup. One day you’re sharing a bed, and the next, you’re just two people passing each other on Canal Street.
He takes that "I barely know her" joke and flips it. It’s a defense mechanism. If he barely knows her, it shouldn't hurt this much, right?
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But clearly, it does.
The album reached the top 10 on the UK charts and stayed there for weeks. It even snagged him nominations at the 2025 MTV VMAs. People are clearly connecting with this specific brand of "modern yearning."
The Production and the Sound
Tony Berg brought a lot of "indie rock" weight to the project. While sombr’s earlier stuff was very lo-fi, I Barely Know Her has these huge, cinematic moments.
"Canal Street" is a great example. It’s a piano ballad that builds into a controlled breakdown. It’s haunted by memories of the Lower East Side. As a listener, you feel like you’re walking through New York with him, seeing ghosts of old dates on every corner.
Then you have "Dime," which is more upbeat and funky. It’s about being infatuated with someone who only sees you as a friend. It’s the "friend zone" anthem of 2025.
The album ends with "Under the Mat." It’s a softer, more acoustic track. The metaphor is a locked door with a key hidden under the mat. It’s about an ending that isn't quite an ending—that tiny bit of hope that keeps you from moving on.
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What This Means for Pop Music in 2026
We’re seeing a shift. The era of the "perfect" pop star is fading. People want artists like sombr who are messy, vulnerable, and maybe a little bit too honest.
He’s not trying to be a polished idol. He’s a guy who writes about his health being impacted by a breakup and uses old memes to title his records. That transparency is why he has 400 million monthly streams.
If you’re looking to get into sombr, don't just shuffle his top hits. Listen to the album from front to back. It’s a narrative. It tells a story that most of us have lived through but didn't know how to put into words.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Listen for the Transition: Pay attention to the transition between "come closer" and "we never dated." They are sonically intertwined and tell a continuous story of uncertainty.
- Check the Credits: Notice the production touches by Tony Berg, especially the strings on "Back to Friends"—they elevate the track from a simple indie song to something much more orchestral.
- Follow the Tour: Sombr has a sold-out UK tour coming up in March 2026. If you’re lucky enough to find resale tickets, his live performances are known for being much more rock-heavy than the studio recordings.
- Explore the Influences: If you like this sound, check out early 1975 or Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher. You can hear where Shane gets his "sad but groovy" DNA.
The "I barely know her" joke might still get a laugh at a family dinner, but for a whole generation of listeners, it’s now the title of the album that defined their heartbreak. That’s the power of sombr. He took a throwaway line and turned it into a legacy.