The First Flower is a cross-media project by Astrit Ismaili produced by The Performance Agency. At its heart is the release of an experimental pop music album, which is derived from the artist’s previous performance work titled ‘MISS’ (2019). The project is written from the perspective of the world’s First Flower—a green plant going through a physical and spiritual transition to enhance its chances of success while pioneering in extremely fluid sexual interactions.
Along their poetic journey, The First Flower is confronted with concerns such as beauty standards, gender dysphoria, the commodification of nature, and queer realities within the living. The album testifies to strong stylistic hybridity: performance art pop meets hyper, gabber, and glam, along with contemporary sound design. Drawing a parallel between the history of flowers and pop culture, the project requalifies contemporary pop aesthetics and demonstrates how creativity can be a strategy to overcome existential limitations; reflecting the artist’s path.
released April 1, 2024
Composition and lyrics: Astrit Ismaili
Music producers: Vincent Arp, Europa, Katu, Lotic, Nömak, Obsequeen, Tim Roth, Colin Self, Zgjim
Featuring: Mykki Blanco, Colin Self
Mixing: Alexander Bornschein
Mastering: Jannis Bentler
Artwork: Ville Vidoe
Graphic Design: Zgjim Elshani
3D Artist: S.A Mayer
Styling: GH
HMU: Elvi
Prosthetist and assistant: Simon Marsiglia
Garments: Wang Consulting, Tra My Nguyen, Sėrėna
Executive Producer: Lily Matras, The Performance Agency
Supported by the Upstream: Music X De