If you love sombr’s “back to friends”, start with The 1975, The Neighbourhood, Dominic Fike, d4vd and Gracie Abrams.

Those artists capture different parts of the song’s appeal.

Some combine intimate vocals with guitar-driven indie pop.

Others explore complicated relationships through atmospheric production.

A few share sombr’s ability to make emotional confusion sound surprisingly energetic.

“back to friends” became one of the biggest alternative-pop breakthroughs of 2025.

Released in December 2024, the song developed an enormous audience through streaming and TikTok.

It also helped establish sombr as one of the most recognisable younger artists in contemporary alternative pop.

Here are fifteen songs worth hearing next.

What makes “back to friends” sound so distinctive?

The emotional directness.

The song explores the awkward situation that follows a relationship becoming physically and emotionally intimate.

Two people have crossed a boundary.

Now one wants to return to being friends.

The other struggles to understand how that could happen.

That tension drives the entire recording.

Musically, sombr combines:

indie-rock influences

dreamy guitar textures

an intimate vocal

and relatively polished alternative-pop production.

The result feels vulnerable without becoming a conventional acoustic ballad.

1. The 1975 – Somebody Else

One of the closest emotional matches.

“Somebody Else” explores the discomfort of watching a former partner move on.

The narrator understands that the relationship has changed.

Emotionally, he hasn’t completely accepted it.

That contradiction is central to “back to friends” too.

The 1975 use more electronic production, but both recordings make romantic confusion sound atmospheric and intimate.

2. The Neighbourhood – Softcore

An excellent recommendation for the darker side of sombr’s sound.

“Softcore” combines alternative pop with electronic textures and intimate vocals.

The production feels nocturnal.

The emotional writing is complicated.

If you enjoy the atmosphere surrounding “back to friends”, The Neighbourhood are an obvious next discovery.

3. Dominic Fike – 3 Nights

A more rhythmic recommendation.

Dominic Fike combines alternative rock, pop and hip-hop influences.

“3 Nights” has a relaxed groove and an immediately recognisable melody.

It’s brighter than much of sombr’s music.

But both artists combine guitar-based songwriting with a contemporary pop sensibility.

4. D4vd – Here With Me

A softer, more romantic recording.

“Here With Me” became enormously popular through its intimate production and emotional songwriting.

The song is less rhythmically assertive than “back to friends”.

But listeners drawn to sombr’s vulnerable vocal style may find plenty to appreciate.

5. Gracie Abrams – I Love You, I’m Sorry

One of the strongest lyrical recommendations.

Abrams explores the complicated emotions surrounding a relationship that has already changed.

Regret.

Affection.

Uncertainty.

The desire to reconnect.

The production is more restrained than sombr’s.

But the emotional perspective is closely related.

6. Sombr – Undressed

Don’t overlook sombr’s wider catalogue.

“Undressed” became another major breakthrough.

The recording combines romantic vulnerability with an increasingly expansive arrangement.

It’s essential listening if “back to friends” was your introduction to the artist.

7. Arctic Monkeys – 505

For listeners who enjoy slow-building emotional intensity.

“505” begins quietly and gradually becomes more dramatic.

Alex Turner’s performance communicates longing and frustration.

The production is more firmly rooted in indie rock.

But the emotional atmosphere should feel familiar.

8. Wallows – Are You Bored Yet?

Featuring Clairo, this recording combines bright indie-pop production with relationship uncertainty.

The contrast is important.

The song sounds playful.

The narrator is questioning whether the relationship remains exciting.

That’s a useful recommendation for listeners who enjoy emotionally complicated songs with accessible melodies.

9. The 1975 – About You

One of the most cinematic recommendations.

“About You” combines atmospheric guitars, layered vocals and an enormous emotional arrangement.

The song explores memory and unresolved attachment.

It’s considerably more expansive than “back to friends”.

But the feeling of struggling to move on is closely related.

10. Conan Gray – Heather

A quieter recommendation.

“Heather” is about romantic jealousy and the pain of wanting somebody who prefers someone else.

The arrangement places considerable emphasis on the vocal.

If the emotional vulnerability of sombr’s writing matters more to you than the production, Conan Gray is worth exploring.

11. Beach Weather – Sex, Drugs, Etc.

A natural match for the alternative-pop atmosphere.

The recording combines a relaxed rhythm with dark, intimate songwriting.

It’s less emotionally direct than “back to friends”.

But the production occupies a similar musical world.

12. Joji – Glimpse of Us

A much more dramatic ballad.

The narrator struggles with memories of a previous relationship while involved with somebody new.

That creates the same uncomfortable sense of emotional overlap found in sombr’s writing.

The music is slower and more piano-driven.

The emotional impact is enormous.

13. Malcolm Todd – Art House

A more experimental recommendation.

Malcolm Todd combines alternative R&B with indie-pop songwriting.

The production has a slightly unusual, homemade quality.

The rhythm is central.

His music is a useful next step for listeners who enjoy sombr but want something less conventional.

14. Clairo – Bags

A beautiful example of romantic uncertainty.

“Bags” captures the awkward period before two people fully understand their feelings.

The arrangement is restrained.

The vocal sounds intimate.

The emotional tension feels natural rather than exaggerated.

It’s a particularly strong recommendation for listeners who enjoy subtle storytelling.

15. Sombr – 12 to 12

Finish with another recording from sombr himself.

“12 to 12” demonstrates his interest in emotionally direct songwriting and polished alternative-pop production.

It’s a useful companion to “back to friends” because it shows the musical identity developing beyond one breakthrough single.

What genre is sombr?

Indie pop.

Alternative pop.

Indie rock influences.

His music also incorporates elements of bedroom pop and contemporary singer-songwriter music.

The appeal comes partly from avoiding one rigid genre.

A song might feature intimate acoustic ideas.

Another might use much larger electronic production.

The emotional writing remains the connection.

Why do sombr’s songs feel so nostalgic?

Because the production draws from several generations of alternative music.

There are elements associated with:

2010s indie rock

bedroom pop

alternative R&B

and guitar-driven pop.

That combination creates a familiar atmosphere even when the recording is new.

Sombr also frequently writes about memories and unresolved relationships.

The production and subject matter reinforce each other.

Which three songs should you listen to first?

For the closest emotional atmosphere:

The 1975 – Somebody Else.

For darker alternative production:

The Neighbourhood – Softcore.

For intimate songwriting:

Clairo – Bags.

Those three provide excellent starting points.

Why is “back to friends” still so popular?

Because the subject is extremely relatable.

Modern relationships don’t always end with a clear conversation.

Sometimes two people become close without agreeing what the relationship means.

Then one person wants to return to an earlier arrangement.

The other doesn’t.

Sombr captures that emotional confusion without making the story unnecessarily complicated.

The directness is part of what makes the song work.

What should you listen to next?

Follow the emotional atmosphere rather than one strict genre.

If you enjoy guitar-driven indie, explore Arctic Monkeys and The 1975.

If you prefer darker production, move towards The Neighbourhood and Joji.

If intimate songwriting is what you love, try Gracie Abrams, Clairo and Conan Gray.

“back to friends” may have introduced you to sombr.

But it also provides an excellent route into a much larger world of emotional alternative pop.