“Feeling alive and I’m feeling the vibe woah/ Stealing tomorrow cause we could die tonight/ No ones a boss even bosses do what they’re told.” So begins our introduction to the world of Mikei Gray (the man behind solo project “The Frst.”
“This Is Me Now” is a piece about “discovering yourself and reclaiming your personal power.” It’s a heavy alternative song with snarky guitar lines. The single is somewhat cinematic, painting a messy psychedelic image in your mind, which the music video perfectly embodies. Gray makes every line of the song important played smoothly with upbeat musicality. In the past, The Frst has created pieces that manage to hook under your skin, so it wasn’t really a surprise when “This Is Me Now” entirely gripped my attention.
Gray’s solo project was created back in 2017. However, it first became a thought in 2016 when he had a dream about the name. The goal of the project was pure freedom and fun. “At the time, rock hadn’t made a comeback yet so it was a bit far fetched,” Gray wrote.
The music video is a whole other experience that builds to “This Is Me Now” with a neon theme; it’s really just a fun video. If you look closely, you’ll see the tape-covered guitar that Gray bought at just ten years old. “It was the cheapest possible model and came with a plastic amp, but I wasn’t deterred.”
The Frst is all about positivity and wants to show other musicians that’s it’s very much possible to get where they are and even further. They have realized that it’s often discouraging to see other artists succeeding. “Music is raw, honest, and the music itself always comes first, which is the other reason behind our name.”
Listen to it here:
