When Sombr, one of the most widely maligned musicians of recent history, releases a song that vulnerably details his experiences with insecurity, do we accept the song as the beautiful, angst-riddled portrait that it is? Or do we continue to disparage his music without truly listening to its meaning? Unfortunately for the 21-year-old American, most listeners have chosen the latter. This apathy caused ‘My Body Isn’t Ready’ to peak at No. 66 on the Billboard Global 200. It creates a stark contrast to the chart success of earlier hits like ‘back to friends’ which peaked at No. 5, even though ‘My Body Isn’t Ready’ is, I would argue, a much better song.
The single takes feelings of self-doubt and regret and lays them bare in deceptively simple language: “I like you but my body isn’t ready / I want you but the mirror won’t let me,” accurately articulating feelings that most have felt before and transforming them into a poetic release. Insecurity is naturally a well-traversed theme in lyrically focused pop music, but what sets Sombr’s song apart is its frightening honesty. Sadly, this level of physical vulnerability is so rare for a male artist. Through such clear and honest openness in his writing — “Wish you could stay the night / But I am scared of the light” — Sombr manages to connect to listeners, making them feel a little less alone in their own self-doubt.
“Sombr performing in London in 2025” by Drew de F Fawkes is licensed under “C.C. BY 2.0“
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