"First Time" - a fantastic new release by JMSEY

“Is it in my mind, don’t know if it’s not, Is it because of my eyes? You’re thinking too much” ~ “First Time”

Perhaps better known from Hobo Johnson & The Lovemakers, JMSEY’s the alter-ego of James Nguyen. He was born in England to Vietnamese refugee parents who eventually emigrated to the United States when James was 14 at the time and he carried the heavy influence of the U.K. music scene with him even as he made the move to Los Angeles, where he resides today.

For a song that is very much about confronting both author and listener with some pretty tough emotions, (and the realities that cause them) “First Time” sure feels lighthearted, catchy, and even downright warm. JMSEY’s fresh new single reminds me a lot of Sublime, making me feel all kinds of wistful things, while the vibes from the melody are trying to take me off the ground on a journey of mental emancipation… It’s got something to do with California, I swear, there’s something about that clay that all these artists are tapping into when making their music.

“First Time” is a song that deals with a bit of trauma, the kind that grows little by little in your most vulnerable years instead of coming from a single specific event; JMSEY points out a moment in particular with the lyrics, but as he goes through the song reclaiming the self-esteem that was robbed from him growing up, you see his tale is one of enduring a constant stream of mean-spirited snipes at him, and how seeing himself reflected in media and pop culture helped create a negative self-image which, through this song, he seems to be letting go of.

As an Asian-American, JMSEY often saw people like himself portrayed a certain way in the media, which then affected the way that people perceived him and treated him. The stereotypes that they often imposed on him sadly led to him taking hits to his self-esteem and his self-image, and if you know anything about that, then you know how those issues can carry someone into a dark, dangerous place from which some people sadly never even return.

Thankfully, JMSEY’s story is one of overcoming, or else we wouldn’t have this brilliant alt-pop track with us here today, a track that starts from a very intimate and vulnerable place with a simple string-and-vocal combo before the energetic rhythmic section pops in. In a way We sort of getting to hear the process of growth and empowerment from a low and exposed point, this is how the music should complement the narrative aspect of the lyrics every time, and JMSEY knows that lesson well.

If you listen closely, you can hear a bit of left-over anger in his voice, but everything around that feels much more wholesome and uplifting that you can get the sense that JMSEY is basically telling us that he’s moved on, he’s forgiven but he hasn’t forgotten, and how could him? Even to this day kids just like him are probably going through the exact same thing as he went through, and that’s the biggest most important reminder that the song leaves us with.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Samuel Aponte is Venezuelan-born raised and based. 

I joined Rival Magazine after a few years of doing PR work for independent musicians of all stripes; understanding their struggles to be heard in a sea of constant  ADHD noise and paywalled access to platforms, I now bring a willingness to always appreciate and encourage the effort and creativity that artists put into their work . Can also find some of my writings on LADYGUNN and We Found New Music.