This article is partly taken from the Autumn 2026 issue of Dazed. Buy a copy of the magazine here.
Some of the world’s most famous bands met at university. Talking Heads met while studying at Rhode Island School of Design, Blur met at Goldsmiths, Pink Floyd met at Regent Street Polytechnic (now Westminster University) and The Doors met at UCLA. It’s proof that the freshers friend curse can be broken, and occasionally, the people you meet in your first few weeks at university will become your globally recognised bandmates. At least that’s what My First Time – the fast-rising four-piece that met at Bristol University in 2021 – is aiming for.
The band, comprising Isaac Stroud-Allen, Jordanna Forsey, James Mellen and Niamh Jones, set the tone with their 2023 debut single “Wind Up Merchant”, a sarcastic post-punk anthem that warned us what they planned to do: “I'll twist your arm, I'll pull your leg until you scream and shout”. In other words, they’re using music to poke holes at society – tackling themes of power, corruption and the pressures facing gen Z, all with wry lyricism and crashing electro-punk basslines.
A recent track, “The Kids Are”, paints a depressing but accurate portrait of today’s youth. “I stay inside, live my life through my iPhone/ Taught as kids we should provide, You need a house, degree, a family, Retire when you die/ The kids are taking Ozempic, Getting violently sick.” They reflect on the realities of their generation with anger, while rightly hurling blame at the economic elite.
In the run-up to their debut album, they’ve released a handful of singles, as well as their debut self-titled EP – which critics raved about for its cutting but undeniably catchy chants. The album, when it comes, will no doubt throw more punches than any of their previous releases, but until then they’re in touring mode, with seven more stops before the end of the year.
As featured in our Autumn 2026 issue, below, the band talk dream collabs and the best bars in Bristol.
The first song we fell in love with is…
Courtney Barnett’s “Pedestrian at Best”. When we first started performing as a band we used to play covers and that was one that we did.
The first track of ours you should listen to is…
Anything from the new EP onwards. Don’t bother listening to the other stuff.
We’d describe our music as…
Marina and the Diamonds meets an overly pampered Dizzee Rascal.
The moment our career changed forever was when…
We hit puberty. And when our fans made us bracelets with ‘MFT’ on them.
We get inspiration from…
The way that words sound. We have a huge Google Docs list of words like ‘beers’ and ‘babywipes’ – it’s a colossal list that we pick through.
The best hangout spot in our hometown is…
The Crown and The Mother’s Ruin are good, but that’s where good souls go to die. Order the Venus Fly Trap [cocktail].
If you like us, you should also check out…
Some bands that we’ve been loving recently: Adult DVD, Get Down Services and Gans.
The best advice I’ve ever been given is…
Set the bar low and you’ll never be disappointed – Rodrick Heffley (Diary of a Wimpy Kid).
Our favourite four albums of all time are…
Bikini Kill, Pussy Whipped. Blur, Modern Life Is Rubbish. The Prodigy, The Fat of the Land. Twenty One Pilots, Vessel.
Our dream collab would be with…
The Hellp.
Header image, from left: Jordanna wears cotton top Timberland, her own earrings. Isaac wears cotton hoodie Carhartt WIP, his own T-shirt. Niamh wears cotton and lace dress Fifth. James wears cotton top Adon, his own
Jewellery Hair Mayuko Nakae using Bumble and bumble., make-up Jenneke Croubels using Anastasia Beverly Hills and Embryolisse UK, photography assistant Jack James, styling assistant Malak Bedidi, hair assistant Rion Asai, make-up assistant Natsu Tomonaga, special thanks Helena Vieira