Edited by Mikkel Hyldebrandt
Photos Stacy Dean
Singer-songwriter Devon Michael Sedrick is making a bold entrance with his debut album, Fifty One Fifty, dropping September 12. Written and produced entirely by Sedrick himself, the project fearlessly navigates through the rawest edges of human emotion—rage, shame, dishonesty, and self-hate—before breaking through to themes of empowerment, healing, and love. With its seamless fusion of rock, R&B, and global percussion, the album is as musically daring as it is emotionally vulnerable.
Raised in Nampa, Idaho, as the eldest of six in what he calls a “wild and loud” mixed-race Mormon household, Sedrick’s childhood was a balancing act of chaos, music, and self-discovery. With a Filipino mother, a European father, and the weight of a deeply religious upbringing, his path to artistry was anything but straightforward. “We were wild and loud, and full of music,” Devon reflects. Coming out as gay and leaving the church became pivotal moments in his personal and creative evolution.
That authenticity pulses at the heart of Fifty One Fifty. The album’s title nods to California’s police code for an involuntary psychiatric hold, which Sedrick uses as a metaphor for facing the darkest parts of himself. “The song ‘Fifty One Fifty’ is about me ‘fifty-one-fiftying’ myself,” he explains. “It’s the moment I realized I wasn’t proud of my actions, and I had to face and change the parts of myself I was finally ready to confront.”
Although the record delves into heavy themes—anxiety, heartbreak, even suicidal ideation—Sedrick insists the message is ultimately one of growth and resilience. “It’s about returning to a place of wholeness,” he says. “We all have dark sides, and I want people to look at those parts of themselves without shame, and with the courage to make conscious shifts.”
The album’s lead single, “You Suck”, delivers this message with a wink and a kick. Both cheeky and cathartic, the track reclaims boundaries and self-worth. “‘You Suck’ is me putting my foot down and no longer putting up with people’s limited perceptions,” Sedrick explains. “I want it to remind people that it’s okay to acknowledge the things that aren’t working for you and laugh about the things that once drained you.”
That mix of gravity and levity defines Sedrick’s approach. “Life can be fucking hard,” he admits, “but it can also be silly and fun, and laughing about it always makes it a little easier.”
Released through So Fierce Music, Fifty One Fifty is packed with standouts. “Skin and Bones” roars with defiance as an anthem for bodily autonomy. “I Want It All” revels in unapologetic ambition and desire. “Excited” draws from his upbringing as a gay man in a Mormon household, reclaiming joy after years of feeling displaced. Each track marks a chapter in Sedrick’s evolution from repression to self-liberation.
His sonic influences are just as eclectic—Matt Corby, Tash Sultana, H.E.R., Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Doechii all leave fingerprints across the album’s textures. Sedrick’s songwriting often begins with loops, which he layers into rich compositions before collaborating with fellow musicians to add bass, percussion, keys, and guitar. “There’s so much potential and exploration when it comes to looping,” he says.
Even his lifestyle informs his music. Living on a sailboat in Marina del Rey and spending downtime surfing has created a sense of fluidity and calm in his work. “I sing so much in the water,” he laughs. “My best ideas always come in the water. The water always gets rid of my anxiety, which is the biggest block for my creativity.”
With Fifty One Fifty, Sedrick is ready to share not just his music but his truth. “I want people to accept themselves fully,” he says. “Sometimes we have to really evaluate how we’ve been living so that we can gain the power to live exactly how we want to.”
That journey continues on stage, as Sedrick gears up for his first solo tour with a talented international lineup. “I am so overwhelmed by the support of my bandmates and their love for the music,” he shares. “I have to pinch myself daily. I cannot wait to play and meet as many people as possible.”
Fifty One Fifty arrives September 12 on all major streaming platforms.
To keep up with Devon Michael Sedrick’s journey, visit devonmichaelsedrick.com—and don’t forget to like, follow, and stream to support this fearless new voice.