Devon Michael Sedrick Steps Into the Light With Fifty One Fifty
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.
How Do You Want to Age?
By Dr. Zachary LaVigne, B.S., D.C.
At some point, usually after our first gray hair or our second pulled hamstring, we start to wonder how this whole “getting older” thing is going to play out. Some people set big goals: “I want to live to 90, maybe 100.” That sounds great until you picture those final decades. Will you still be meeting friends on the Beltline, or will you be bed-bound, needing a walker, too unsteady to leave the house?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: longevity without mobility is not a prize. What’s the point of adding years if you cannot enjoy them? That is why now, not decades from now, is the time to sit down and think about how you want to age.
The American Reality
In the U.S., the golden years are often not so golden. The leading causes of disability are not exotic diseases but familiar ones: strokes that rob speech and balance, dementia that erases memory, cancers that sap energy, and simple falls that fracture hips. Many people spend their last 5 to 20 years managing chronic illness and shrinking their world because they feel too unsteady to go out. Nursing homes are filled not with people who chose to stop living but with people who could not keep moving.
Movement is Medicine
The human body was built for motion. For most of history, survival depended on walking, climbing, lifting, and carrying. Our skeletons hardened and our muscles grew because we used them constantly. Today we sit at desks, order Uber Eats, and treat “resting” as a hobby. Stillness feels normal, but it is not.
Movement is the single best investment you can make in your future independence. Balance does not vanish with age. It erodes because the small stabilizing muscles are not trained. Bone density does not crumble because of birthdays. It thins because bones stop getting the stress signals that come from lifting and loading. The body is constantly listening to how you treat it.
Training Your Whole System
Strength training matters, but muscles alone are not the whole story. Your nervous system is what coordinates balance, reaction time, and agility. Without it, strength is wasted. Training your nervous system can be as simple as practicing single-leg stands, walking on uneven surfaces, or taking up an activity that challenges coordination. Dancing at a club, playing pickleball
at Piedmont Park, or hiking the steep trails at Stone Mountain all keep the brain and body talking to each other. That communication is what keeps you from stumbling when you misstep on a cracked Midtown sidewalk.
Why Midlife Matters
If you are in your 40s or 50s, you are at a crossroads. This is the decade where your choices set the stage for what your 70s and 80s look like. Weight training is like putting deposits into your strength bank. Every squat, press, and pull is telling your bones to stay dense, your muscles to stay strong, and your nervous system to stay sharp.
Think of it this way: future you is either struggling to get out of a chair or still walking laps at Piedmont Park with friends. That outcome is being written now, not later. The movements you avoid today become the abilities you lose tomorrow.
Choosing Your Ending
Aging is not optional, but how you age has wiggle room. It is not about how many years you collect but about the quality of the ones you get to live. The more important question is what you want those years to feel like. Freedom or fragility? Autonomy or assistance?
The answer is not in another anti-aging cream or “brain booster” pill. It lies in lacing up your shoes, picking up weights, and training for balance, bone density, and nervous system sharpness.
Because the real prize is not just more years, it’s better ones.
By Dr. Zachary LaVigne, B.S., D.C.
Queer Cinema Highlights of 2025
Edited by Mikkel Hyldebrandt
2025 has already proven to be a banner year for LGBTQ+ storytelling on screen—bold narratives, emotional depth, and vibrant representation abound. Here are five of the most noteworthy LGBTQ+themed films that have premiered so far this year.
1. The History of Sound
Directed by Oliver Hermanus and starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, The History of Sound is a poignant and lyrical romance set in pre-World War I America. The story follows Lionel, a talented music student, who falls deeply
in love with David, an aristocrat. Together they embark on a bittersweet journey across Maine to collect folk songs—an emotionally charged narrative that explores love, memory, and loss with haunting tenderness.
2. State of Firsts
This important documentary follows Sarah McBride, the first openly trans U.S. Congressperson, chronicling her groundbreaking campaign with exclusive behind-the-scenes access. It premiered at Tribeca and delivers powerful, high-stakes storytelling.
3. Parade: Queer Acts of Love and Resistance
Canada’s LGBTQ+ history gets an electrifying pass in this documentary, tracing major milestones—from protest marches to two-spirit identity—affirming how love and resistance have shaped queer activism north of the border. It opened Hot Docs 2025 to glowing reactions.
4. There’s a Zombie Outside
A delightfully surreal queer zombie film, it follows a filmmaker whose horror creation bleeds into his reality—mirroring his internal struggles with
identity and relationships. Wry, mind-bending, and free to stream on Tubi and other platforms, it’s equal parts funny and poignant.
5. The Wedding Banquet
A heartfelt and timely remake of Ang Lee’s classic, this version explores fertility, immigration, and imagined families through two lesbian couples. With strong performances (including Bowen Yang), it balances comedy and emotional truth—with much to say about queerness across generations.
Films We’re Excited For (Coming Soon)
Pillion
This queer biker romance from A24 is already generating buzz. The story follows a shy wallflower (Harry Melling) who becomes the submissive companion to a charismatic motorbike gang leader (Alexander Skarsgård).
Tiger
Set in Tokyo and directed by Anshul Chauhan, Tiger tells the story of a closeted gay masseuse grappling with family expectations and identity.
Girlfriends
This Cantonese coming-of-age romance explores the same woman (Lok) at ages 17, 22, and 34, reflecting on love, ambition, and identity.
BARS & CLUBS MIDTOWN
BLAKE’S ON THE PARK blakesontheparkatlanta.com 227 10th St NE
BULLDOGS
893 Peachtree St NE
FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOOD BAR friendsonponce-atl.com 736 Ponce De Leon Ave NE
MY SISTER’S ROOM mysistersroom.com 66 12th St NE
X MIDTOWN xmidtown.com 990 Piedmont Ave NE
THE T modeltatlanta.com 465 Boulevard SE
CHESHIRE
HERETIC hereticatlanta.com 2069 Cheshire Bridge Road
BJ ROOSTERS bjroosters.com 2043 Cheshire Bridge Road NE
WESTSIDE
MARQUETTE 868 Joseph E. Boone Blvd NW
840ATL 840 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd
ANSLEY
ATLANTA EAGLE 1492 Piedmont Ave NE
FELIX’S 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
MIXX mixxatlanta.com 1492 Piedmont Ave NE
OSCAR’S oscarsatlanta.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
WOOFS woofsatlanta.com 494 Plasters Ave NE
TRIPPS fb: tripps-bar 1931 Piedmont Cir NE
EAST ATLANTA, GRANT PARK & EDGEWOOD
MARY’S marysatlanta.com 1287 Glenwood Ave SE
SISTER LOUISA’S CHURCH sisterlouisaschurch. com 466 Edgewood Ave SE
LORE ATLANTA loreatl.com 466 Edgewood Ave loreatl.com
DINING
MIDTOWN
CASA ALMENARA 991 Piedmont Ave NE casa-almenara.com
OLIVE BISTRO olivebistro.com 1050 Juniper St NE #4
LA HACIENDA lahaciendamidtown. com
900 Monroe Dr NE
TUK TUK THAI FOOD LOFT TUKTUKATL.COM 1745 Peachtree Rd NW
DEKALB
LIPS ATLANTA atldragshow.com 3011 Buford Hwy NE
RETAIL
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BOY NEXT DOOR MENSWEAR boynextdoormenswear.com 1000 Piedmont Ave NE, Ste A
ANSLEY
BARKING LEATHER AFTER DARK barkingleather.com 1510 Piedmont Ave NE
GCB & PLEASURES brushstrokesatlanta. com
1510-D Piedmont Ave. NE FITNESS
URBAN BODY FITNESS urbanbody tness. com
500 Amsterdam Ave N
CHESHIRE
GRAVITY FITNESS gravity tnessatl.com 2201 Faulkner Rd NE
SPAS/BATHS ADULT
FLEX SPA exspas.com 76 4th St NW
SOUTHERN NIGHTS
2205 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
Photos by: Russ Youngblood
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How tf is it already September? Time flies when you spend 8 hours a day on Outlook.
I need to quit my job, so I can focus more on my laundry.
Super excited about a brand-new week hanging on by a thread.
Your body is begging you for water, fruits, and veggies. Not Don Julio.
I’m awake, sure, but at what cost?
Tops are just bottoms too lazy to douche. What if my soulmate is a girl, and I’m out here sucking d*ck for no reason?!
Any guy who parallel parks or backs in the spot with one hand and the music blasting is a felon.
DoxyPEP
