Going to Sombr’s first-ever Brisbane concert on Thursday night felt like being part of a secret inner circle, the ones who already know this kid’s going to be massive, even if the rest of the city hasn’t caught on yet.
You might not know his name off the top of your head just yet, but chances are you already know the songs.
At just 20, the New York City native has quietly taken over Spotify charts, radio playlists and, of course, the TikTok For You Page, with hit tracks like Undressed, Back to Friends and Twelve to Twelve.
That momentum has translated fast.
Sombr, whose real name is Shane Michael Boose, received a major Grammy nomination for Best New Artist at the upcoming 2026 Grammy Awards, announced in November, following the runaway success of breakout singles like Back to Friends and his debut album I Barely Know Her.
It’s the kind of recognition that usually comes years in, not months.
On paper, the numbers still shouldn’t have worked yet.
The Late Nights & Young Romance Tour marks Sombr’s first run through Australia and New Zealand, and he’s only properly stepped onto the global stage this year.
But inside the venue, you wouldn’t have known it.
He slipped behind the piano during several songs, grounding the chaos with moments of genuine musicianship, before later picking up an acoustic guitar for Caroline, giving the crowd a breather without ever losing them.
At one point, he addressed being labelled a “performative male,” brushing it off with a grin and insisting he’s simply a performer.
Watching him command the room, it was hard to argue.
A quick outfit change swapped leopard print for zebra-striped flared jeans before a grand pre-encore moment saw him leap into the crowd, finishing the number collapsed on the floor in theatrical exhaustion.
For the encore, Sombr returned with his now-viral custom mic stand, its rounded base designed to sway and rebound rather than topple.
He shoved and leaned into it as it rocked back upright each time, a playful visual that matched energy of the performance.
Then came Twelve to Twelve, the song that changed everything.
After its music video featured Addison Rae, the track exploded online, becoming the unofficial soundtrack to The Summer I Turned Pretty fan edits and late-night TikTok scrolling sessions worldwide.
Performed as the ultimate finale, it felt like a full-circle moment, made even more personal when Sombr changed the lyrics for his Brisbane audience.
“Met at a Brisbane cafe, I said can I sit with you, mate?” he sang, swapping out the original Paris reference.
“You guys have been f*cking crazy, this is such a fun show, brisbane i want to come back here for the rest of my life, you guys are amazing. this is my first ever show here and you guys are f*cking insane,” he told the crowd.
Leaving the venue, it was hard not to feel like we’d just seen the beginning of something major.
Not just a trend, the emergence of a true superstar, already met with absolute belief from the Brisbane crowd.