INTERVIEW: Devon Michael Sedrick discusses living on a boat, his love for doughnuts and his upcoming Fifty One Fifty album

Singer-songwriter Devon Michael Sedrick grew up in Nampa, Idaho as the eldest of six in a vibrant, mixed-race Mormon household. With a Filipino mother, a European father, and a deeply religious upbringing, Devon’s early life was a whirlwind of noise, faith, and self-discovery. Navigating identity through the lens of music, he found clarity in chaos-and pivotal moments like coming out as gay and stepping away from the church became defining chapters in his artistic evolution.

His debut album Fifty One Fifty, arriving this Friday (12.09), dives deep into themes of anxiety, heartbreak, and mental health-including moments of suicidal ideation-but ultimately offers a message of resilience and healing. Written and produced entirely by Devon himself, it’s a raw, intimate portrait of growth.

So, let’s dive in head first-here’s my chat with Devon about life, music, and everything in between.

For our readers that might not be familiar with yourself and your music yet, can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your music?

Oh hiiiiii! My name is Devon Michael Sedrick. Ummmmm… let me think… I live in LA, I live on a boat, I love to surf, I grew up in Idaho, and I fucking love making music!

I’m so excited for this album to be released and I cannot wait to go on tour! I have some of the most incredible humans and musicians coming with me and I cannot wait to be playing all of my favourite West Coast cities!

Your music dances between genres-Alternative Rock, Jazz, Folk, Indie RnB. If your sound were a cocktail, what would be in it? (And would it be served shaken, stirred, or with a twist?)

Ooooo… omg I’m not a huge drinker, so my knowledge is a little bit limited, but I would say a Bloody Mary. Mostly because it’s my favourite, but also because you can mix it up by using tequila or mezcal, and you can through literally anything on top. I got a Bloody Mary the other day that had a full ass burger on top of it. That’s how I like things, diverse and substantial lol.

Can you think of a particular live performance that changed you as an artist?

Yes, so many! I mean which ones haven’t. I love watching other people perform, there’s always something new and interesting and unique about how everyone performs and you can pick up on so many different things. Matt Corby was a big one for me recently. There’s something about him that is so earnest and honest and watching him just allowed me to be so comfortable in my own body. I can be self critical and I fear being too “corny”, but that’s where the most heartfelt and juicy parts of ourselves exist.

Your lyrics often feel raw and vulnerable, so how do you decide what parts of yourself to share with your audience and what to keep private?

I’m still trying to figure that out. Sometimes I feel like I overshare, but I want people to be able to discuss topics that may be uncomfortable. Shame has such a hold on people, and one of shame’s biggest tools is silence. I want people to be able to open up and share their experience, so I try to be as open and honest as possible without exposing anyone else. 

Your track “a letter to my suicidal friends.” hits hard, approaching mental health in your music is refreshing, what do you hope listeners take away from it?

I want people to know that life is hard. I get it. It can be so fucking painful sometimes. But I’m so grateful that you are here with me. It’s selfish really, but you existing in the world makes it easier for me to exist in this world, and I’m so fucking grateful for the time that I have with you, no matter how long that is. 

Let’s talk Fifty One Fifty. What inspired the title, and what emotional terrain are you exploring in this upcoming album?

Fifty one fifty is a California code used when someone is involuntarily committed, usually when they deem you a danger to yourself or others. This song was a wake up call when I realised I wasn’t super proud of how I had been behaving and decided that I needed to fifty one fifty myself, take a time out and reevaluate myself.

I was exploring all of the sides of myself that I don’t normally like to acknowledge and I was trying to look them as dead on as possible. We all have these “shadowy” sides of ourselves, and we tend to avoid them, but I think if we look at them directly there’s a lot to learn there.

You’ve described your music as “something cute, something creepy, something spicy, and always something sweet.” Which track from Fifty One Fifty best embodies that recipe?

Probably Delicious, it’s about sugar and sweetness, but the level of sugar and sweet that turns into poison. The song has such a sneaky taunting element to it, but it fronts as something silly and innocent. 

I've just realised you said you live on a boat! So cool! How does the ocean influence your creativity and have you lived there for long?

I think your environment always affects what you make and create. It’s hard to always pinpoint exactly the influence that it’s having, but the water can always calm my anxious mind, and I think it helped calm my nervous system enough to explore these topics. I was dealing with such uncomfortable parts of myself I needed surfing and sailing to help ease my mind. 

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If you could collaborate with any artist, living or gone, who would it be and what kind of track would you make together?

Right now that would probably be Alicia Keys. I don’t know what it is, but she is such a vibe, and I feel like she would make me feel safe enough to expose the deepest parts of myself. She has such a cool presence and I feel like it would be so fun to collaborate with her. 

As a queer artist, how do you see your role in shaping LGBTQ+ representation in music today?  

I think it’s hard to really see how you’re going to impact an overall movement. There have always been queer people in music. Always. And I’m just grateful that I live in a time when I can be out, open and honest about it. 

What’s something fans would be surprised to learn about you outside of music? A hidden talent, a guilty pleasure, a weird superstition?

I don’t know if people would be surprised but I LOVE doughnuts. I once travelled the United States and had a doughnut every day for 3 months to try to find the best donuts in the United States. If you need recs, I gotchu. 

Finally, do you have any plans to visit the UK any time soon?

Yes! I really want to. I’m hoping to come write and record in the UK soon, and I would love to come tour. Maybe summer 2026???

Devon's Fifty One Fifty album will be on all streaming platforms on Friday (12.09) and you can pre-save it HERE.

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