Sombr Says He Turns Off the AC and Sweats While Making Music: 'I Have to Be Suffering'
Sombr Says He Turns Off the AC and Sweats While Making Music: 'I Have to Be Suffering'
Lily BrownWed, June 24, 2026 at 10:45 PM UTC
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Sombr in New York City on June 11, 2026Credit: TheStewartofNY/WireImage -
Sombr creates music in discomfort by turning off the AC to intentionally sweat and fuel his creativity
The indie rock artist prefers writing songs in solitude during late-night hours when the world is quiet
Sombr finds joy in touring and connecting with fans, which balances the isolation of his songwriting process
Sombr has a unique approach to making music and it involves getting a little uncomfortable.
During a recent appearance on Brittany Broski's Royal Court, Sombr, 20, shared the surprising ritual he follows when he's creating songs. The singer-songwriter, whose real name is Shane Boose, admitted he turns off the air conditioning and forces himself to sweat through the process.
"We're in our dark bedrooms suffering," Sombr told Broski, 29, on the June 17 episode. "No friends, no lover."
The revelation came as Broski asked about the mood behind his "Sombr Summer," a phrase tied to the artist's emotionally charged music.
"Are you sweating?" Broski asked, to which Sombr replied, "Oh, we sweat."
The indie rock artist then explained that the discomfort is intentional.
Sombr performs during the MTV Video Music Awards in New York in September 2025Credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty
"When I make my music, I purposely don't turn on the AC so I can suffer and sweat," he shared. "It makes me hungrier to work and make a good song. Like, I have to be sweating like a jazz musician when I make my music."
Earlier in the conversation, the musician also mentioned that some of his best work comes during the quietest hours of the night.
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"I would so much rather stay up until 6 a.m. and sleep all day," he said. "The night is so magical, especially if you're creative."
Sombr performs during the BottleRock festival in Napa in May 2026Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty
For Sombr, the ideal writing environment is complete solitude.
"It needs to be 3 a.m. None of my friends can be awake. Nothing can be going on," he said. "I think it's truly like it's isolation."
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While being alone might help him write songs, it's not necessarily where Sombr finds happiness. Later in the interview, he reflected on the emotional highs and lows of life as an artist, revealing that touring, not songwriting, is what brings him the most joy.
"I feel like when I'm writing I isolate myself and I get sad," he admitted. "And then when I tour and I'm able to be with my people, I get so happy."
The singer said interacting with fans after the show keeps him grounded.
"I need that human connection," he said, explaining that meeting listeners and hearing their stories helps put everything into perspective.
Sombr's You Are the ReasonTour will launch in Mexico City on July 22, 2026.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
