From walking for MAINS SS24 debut show last year to performing centre stage alongside the UK’s finest at Big Smoke Festival this summer, the 24-year-old talent continues his electric trajectory across both music and fashion spaces. Get familiar with ThaF1rst…

What five words define your sound?

Pioneering, Flashy, Lavish, Deluxe, New-Vintage.

Tell me something unique about your creative process

All aspects of the music are created pretty much on the spot, so production is being made while I write and then further produced while I’m recording. I would like to think that’s unique!

Which song of yours would you like people to hear first? 

I’d say ‘Chanel Bags’, purely for the fact that it just gives off luxury vibes. Down to the quality of production, the lyrics, the vibe, even the video. Definitely my current favourite release. 

What inspired you to make that song? 

My team and I had literally just finished Paris Fashion Week a couple days before recording the song, so I’d say that experience very much had an influence on the feel of the song. 

What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?

I have a few songs that I’ve been vulnerable on but we haven’t released them just yet. Hopefully, on the project we’ll start getting more personal.

What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage? 

The best and worst experience was both at the same show funnily enough. I was performing ‘Peanut Punch’ with Frisco at Brixton, Hootenanny and I completely forgot my verse! Luckily and naturally I managed to hype the crowd and got a wheel up from the DJ. Second time round I smashed it, crowd was going nuts, followed it up with performing ‘Bad One’. 

What is your favourite song to perform? 

My overall favourite song to perform is ‘Bad One’ by a mile! The energy on the track is just elite. Any and everywhere I perform the track, it goes off!

Which artist/song/album made you want to make music? 

I’ve always wanted to make music but seeing the whole Boy Better Know movement grow first hand from the ground to where they are now is what really showed me I can turn a hobby into a career. 

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead? 

I probably would’ve carried on playing football. I started drifting away from football once I started going to the studio and recording. 

What’s success to you? 

Having a healthy family I can provide for by doing what I love and enjoy. 

What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction? 

Walking for Skepta’s MAINS show at London Fashion Week last year, which Vogue ended up using my runway picture for an article cover. That was my first ever time modelling and I started getting offers for plenty of other big jobs straight away. 

Where can people keep in touch with you?

Instagram: @ThaF1rst

Twitter: @lwaysTF

YouTube: @ThaFirst