Ep. 223: sombr | How a 100% Writer-Producer Took Over Pop
And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan
Career Low to Breakout: The Back to Friends Shift
Ross asks about career trajectory; Sombr recounts a low period, making music without commercial intent, and Back to Friends’ rise.
Today’s guest is one of the most exciting young artists in the world right now.
A once-in-a-generation artist writing and producing every record himself — and turning that independence into global hits.
His records aren’t just topping charts — many of them are 100%ers.
Self-written, self-produced, and streamed hundreds of millions of times.
He’s building a world entirely his own...
In this episode of And The Writer Is, Ross Golan sits down with Sombr to unpack how he:
- Writes and produces 100% of his music
- Went from viral moments to global success
- Deals with pressure, purpose, and proving himself
Presented by our friends at @NMPA @splice
A huge thank you to our sponsors.
Chapter list
0:00 The Rise of Sombr: Bedroom Producer to Global Prodigy
0:01:02;15 [NMPA] - Fighting for Songwriters (Season Sponsor)
0:01:51 Early Discovery: Why Warner Music Bet on a 16-Year-Old
0:03:38 My First Song Blew Up: Waking Up to 200K Likes & Columbia Records
0:06:00;14 From NYC Roots to Proving Haters Wrong
0:08:16 From Charlie Puth to Operatic Arias: My Secret Classical Music Training
00:11:04 How I Dropped Out of LaGuardia to Get Signed (TikTok Made Me Quit)
00:13:39 Opening for The Strokes at SXSW
00:14:41 The Imposter Syndrome of a Global Superstar
00:15:36 From GarageBand to Global Hits: My FLOPS & Early Projects (Cherry Valley)
00:17:50 Who is Sombr? Shane vs. The Artist & Why New York Makes Anything Possible
00:21:02 The TRUTH About "Caroline": She's Everyone... She's You.
00:22:13 The $0 Photo Shoot That Became My Global Album Cover
00:24:28 Advice to My 16-Year-Old Self
00:26:18 My Secret Writing Method: Saving Choruses & How I Made the Album in 1 Month
00:28:14 [NMPA] - The Power of Music Publishers (Sponsor Segment)
00:28:56 [SPLICE] - Using AI Ethically & Protecting Creators (Sponsor Segment)
00:30:42 "Back to Friends": Writing a Global Hit from a Career Low
00:36:44 Working with Tony Berg: A Mentor and Real Instruments
00:40:54 "Undress": Building Confidence After a Breakthrough
00:43:40 Sacrifices of Fame: Losing My Social Life
00:45:30 Anxiety and Expectations: Navigating Global Success
00:51:23 Critics vs. Appreciation: Why Art Shouldn’t Be Rated
00:058:09 The Final Word: Why the Haters Say I'm Not "Serious" (A Joke)
00:58:50 The Beatles & The Muse: The Real Secret to Timeless Art
00:59:11 Thank You & Outro
NMPA fights for songwriters' rights, ensuring fair pay and protection.
Check them out at NMPA.org and follow them on social media at @NMPAorg
Splice is the industry’s top sample library—royalty-free for all. It empowers creators with its incredible library and ethical AI tools, supporting original artists every step of the way.
Download Splice today and follow them on social media at @splice
And The Writer Is...
Hosted by Ross Golan
Executive produced by Joe London and Jad Saad
Follow us on socials at @andthewriteris
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