Sombr has covered Olivia Dean’s Hottest 100-winning track “Man I Need” for triple j’s Like A Version.
Crediting her as “a really inspiring and incredible artist”, sombr tackled the track with his band in the studio, a week after making it into the Hottest 100 Top 10 himself.
“It feels so timeless and I love the production, I love the lyrics,” he said of the song. “Everything about it. Amazing.”
For his Like A Version debut, the 20-year-old artist gave the contemporary love song his signature feel with fuzzy, distorted vocals and a driving indie sound. Check it out below.
Sombr is a rising artist carving out a space at the intersection of alt-pop, indie rock, and emotionally raw songwriting. Known for pairing moody, atmospheric production with diaristic lyrics, his music often leans into themes of isolation, self-reflection, and the push-and-pull of modern relationships.
In 2025, he released his debut studio album I Barely Know Her. The 10-track record – co-produced by Sombr and veteran producer Tony Berg – became a defining moment in his career, combining elements of indie rock and pop with deeply introspective themes of heartbreak, longing and life in New York City.
The album includes a string of his most successful singles to date: “Back to Friends”, his breakout global hit that peaked high on the Billboard Hot 100; “Undressed”, which topped charts in multiple countries; and “12 to 12” which landed at No. 8 on the Hottest 100.
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Sombr’s rising profile was further reflected in accolades like nominations at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards for Best New Artist and Best Alternative, as well as high-profile performances that helped cement his status as a breakout star.
