As both a best new artist nominee and a performer at the 2026 Grammys, Sombr had no shortage of pinch-me moments on Sunday night. “It was such an honor to be nominated in the same category as all these incredible artists that I admire and respect,” the singer tells Vogue. “I watched the Grammys with my mom and dad when I was a kid, but I honestly never thought that in a million years I would be nominated for a Grammy and be on that stage.”
For a newcomer to the music scene, Sombr has quickly amassed a huge fan base, thanks to his breakout 2025 debut, I Barely Know Her. The star—a native New Yorker who wrote much of the album in his Lower East Side bedroom—admits he is still getting used to all the attention. “I haven’t had time for reflection at all,” Sombr says. “I’m just grateful for the reaction to the album, and I’m so indebted to my fans who’ve been with me all through this crazy year.”
Happily, his stylist, Brandon Tan, has wasted no time making Sombr look the part of a modern-day rock star. “There were key words I kept in mind throughout our process [for the Grammys,]” says Tan, who cultivated two statement looks for the star. “Provocative, confident, and rebellious were some of them.”
For the Grammys red carpet, Sombr donned a custom look from Valentino—an intentional choice, given the recent death of the house’s legendary founder, Valentino Garavani. “For me, wearing a custom design by Alessandro Michele, just weeks after the untimely passing of Valentino Garavani, seemed to make sense,” says Sombr. The silvery suit was paired with a sheer, embroidered lace shirt. “We worked so closely with the Valentino team, who were extremely collaborative throughout the entire process despite having an entire couture show just days before the Grammys,” says Tan. “We exchanged references, sketches, and proposals before landing on the look. There were a couple variations.”