Sombr is only looking ahead with his debut performance on the MTV Video Music Awards main stage. The 20-year-old musician added more fuel to the fire of his breakout year with a medley featuring the hit single “Back to Friends” and the standout record “12 to 12.”
Sombr’s set started off in a photo booth, where he emerged with the opening lines of “Back to Friends.” As the song progressed, he worked his way over to a performance stage with NYC club posters plastered across the walls as his band played on. Then it was time to really get the party started. “This one’s for the girls that get it,” Sombr announced before launching into “12 to 12.” His dancers made out under disco ball lights while he partied with a bunch of girls. Whatever sadness lingered from his heartbroken opening song was gone by the time he reached the “12 to 12” bridge.
Sombr also received his first VMAs nominations at this year’s show. The singer-songwriter was up for Best New Artist against Ella Langley, Gigi Perez, Lola Young, Alex Warren, and the Marías. He took home the award for Best Alternative for “Back to Friends,” while “12 to 12” appeared as a contender for Song of the Summer but lost out to Tate McRae.
sombr performing “Back to Friends” and “12 to 12” at the 2025 VMAs 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/pVVAgmCf7C
— Video Music Awards (@vmas) September 8, 2025
“It’s hard to step back and be like, ‘Wow, this is amazing’ when everything is happening so fast, but it is the best thing that has ever happened to me,” he told MTV about his quick rise when he was named MTV’s Global Push Artist for September. “Being able to meet all these people, go to all these countries, and see all these new faces and beautiful people who connect with my music — it’s all I ever wanted to do in my life, so it’s the best thing ever.”
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From Rolling Stone US
