The band - comprised of Isaac (vocals), James (guitar), Naia (bass) and Jordanna (drums) - emerged from the kind of organic chemistry that can't be manufactured. For most of them, this marks their first "proper" band, save for James, who "had been in a couple of wedding bands and DJ'ed at 'Spoons before we started this."

Their path from campus collaboration to rising force in British alternative music wasn't exactly pre-plotted. Though as it turns out, those university days weren't wasted - Isaac's music business studies would later prove instrumental in securing their record deal. It's the kind of pragmatic detail that feels perfectly aligned with a band whose new single 'Much Better' takes aim at the modern obsession with artistic purity.

Speaking of that latest release, the band pulls no punches in describing its intent: "'Much Better' is an anti-music anthem. Stop caring about meaning finding yourself, or the importance of carefully curated art. Start cashing cheques and worm your way into real money." They continue with delicious irony, "'Much Better' is for the social media business gurus that have the solution to complete self-actualisation: COLD HARD CASH."

This refreshing cynicism comes paired with an equally unvarnished songwriting approach. When asked about his lyrical inspirations, Isaac cuts straight to the marrow: "Anything in the real world. Real world shit... 'I'm a modern man, I piss with my phone in my hands'. That's the sort of stuff I'm drawn to. The squeamish, the queasy, the words or pronunciations that make your hair stand up. The grease, the moisture. The hard snap of a belt buckle."

Their character-based approach to songwriting serves a deeper purpose, too. "It allows you to take a viewpoint that's rarely shared," the band explain. "By taking the viewpoint of an arsehole, you can hear just how insane their thoughts really are. It's like a messed-up therapy session where you're speaking to a drunken oaf whose mind can't change. Sometimes, all you can do is respond with an emoji. 🤷‍♂️. Proper deep shit."

While their early days drew inspiration from Bristol's politically charged atmosphere - "When we first started out, the likes of Idles (who are Bristol based) were definitely an inspiration in getting into more politically-sided music" - they've since evolved toward something more personal. "But now, where we've taken the rest of our songs, our inspirations lie more in the areas that shaped us when we were kids."

That evolution is evident in their creative trajectory. "'Man of Ill Repute' and 'Brand New' are songs that are over two years old for us. They are some of the first songs we wrote, so releasing stuff like 'Much Better' feels much better." And there's more where that came from - "So many songs. We're sweating buckets writing at the moment. New songs in the set, as well. We're all salivating to release new stuff."

The band's ambitions for the future are as unfiltered as their lyrics: "Release lots of new songs, tour, gig and achieve a level of music domination on a global level." But it's not all world domination and industry critique - they maintain a charmingly diverse array of outside interests: "Badminton, tennis, Top Trumps, pastries, Dairy Lea Dunkers, Tinder, binge drinking and hanging out with our loved ones."

Their current tour schedule reflects that mounting momentum, with dates spanning from Bristol's Rough Trade to Brighton's Great Escape Festival. Speaking of Brighton, it holds a special place in their hearts - "We love that city a lot and always have the best shows there." They've noticed some perks of their rising profile, too, noting with satisfaction that they've "seen improvements in the rider, which is nice. Guinness for Carling, luxury upgrades."

Behind the sardonic wit and thunderous sound, My First Time remain refreshingly down to earth. Their endearing quirks - "Isaac was born in Sydney, Australia. Naia is pronounced N-eye-a. Jordanna owns pet tarantulas. James supports Arsenal" - speak to a band who haven't lost touch with what makes them human, even as they skewer the pretensions of the modern music industry.

The band's trajectory feels like a gleefully chaotic pub crawl through the music industry's back alleys - which is precisely what makes them so magnetic: My First Time brandish their rough spots like hard-earned medals. They're crafting anthems for anyone who's ever checked their Instagram notifications while standing at a urinal or traded their artistic aspirations for a steady paycheck - and doing it with a self-awareness that cuts through the typical indie posturing like a well-aimed pint glass.

My First Time offer unvarnished truth, delivered with a knowing wink and a thunderous backbeat. Sometimes, the most honest art comes from those who aren't afraid to admit they're in it for the beer upgrades - and making the case that maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.