First Time Flyers Soar With Debut Album Bound To Break
UK country band First Time Flyers have been making waves ever since their debut, and now they’re taking flight with their first full-length record. Their debut album, Bound To Break, officially lands today (September 12) via Lookout Mountain Records, and it’s a project that feels as fearless as it does deeply personal. Across 15 tracks, the group stitches together heartbreak, healing, and the leaps of faith it takes to begin again.
Formed by four friends—Poppy Fardell, Jake Morrell, Vicki Manser, and Tim Prottey-Jones—First Time Flyers are far from your average country outfit. Each of them is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and vocalist, which means this isn’t just a band with harmonies; it’s a band built on harmony. They design, produce, and release their own music, creating something that feels polished yet intimate. Their sound may be rooted in country storytelling, but it freely flirts with pop, rock, and cinematic singer-songwriter flair.
The title Bound To Break couldn’t be more fitting. These songs take us through the cracks that life carves out—breakups, burnouts, breakthroughs—and the messy but beautiful process of rebuilding. From the tenderness of Stay, to the nostalgia of Looking Back Now, to the celebratory glow of Gold, each track captures real stories from the band’s lives. As Poppy puts it, “Every track is stitched from our real lives. The love, the loss, the laughter, the things we said and the things we wish we’d said.”
For us, one of the album’s most powerful moments comes right at the start with opening track Jump, written by Vicki Manser. As the band’s openly LGBTQ+ member, Vicki drew from her own journey of finding the courage to step out of an unhappy heterosexual relationship and into a love that finally felt true. In her words:
“It was different to anything I had ever experienced. I instantly felt so connected, so safe and I knew we would end up together. I had only ever been with men. But I knew. Everything in my body and my soul knew it was right and nothing anyone said or did was going to stop me from Jumping into something that felt incredible!”
Jump sets the tone for the album’s honesty, reminding us that queerness, like country music itself, is about storytelling rooted in truth. It’s a song that doesn’t just resonate with queer listeners, but with anyone who’s ever had to take a leap into the unknown for the sake of love and self-acceptance.
First Time Flyers aren’t just looking backward, they’re pushing forward. Their newest single, Primadonna, showcases the band’s knack for blending irresistible hooks with layered harmonies. It’s bold, it’s fun, and it proves that this band knows how to balance introspection with pure joy.
Of course, the best way to experience First Time Flyers is live. The band’s headline tour kicks off September 17 in Manchester and runs through October 10 in Edinburgh. With their chemistry, four-part vocals, and stories that hit close to the heart, we can already tell these shows are going to be something special. For tickets please visit firsttimeflyeres.com.
Bound To Break isn’t just an album, it’s an arrival. For First Time Flyers, it marks a bold debut; for us as listeners, it’s an invitation to lean into the cracks, embrace the leaps, and remember that sometimes being “bound to break” is the only way to break through.
Bound to Break is available on all major music streaming platforms. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!
Featured Image: Image Courtesy of Lookout Mountain Records
