sedrick

Out artist Devon Michael Sedrick channels his inner sass and heartfelt honesty in his cheeky new single, “You Suck”. Inspired by toxic coworkers and a hostile work environment, the track is a cathartic release for anyone who’s ever been burned by two-faced people. With a sound that’s playful, lighthearted, and just the right amount of naughty, the song delivers a powerful message: acknowledge the suck, let it go, and don’t let it define you.

How would you describe yourself as an artist?

Devon Michael Sedrick: I love to explore all the sides of myself. There are so many different aspects and parts of ourselves and I try to give voice to all of the different parts. I tend to write from a place that I have a hard time speaking about, and it really helps me understand that part of myself better. My main goal as an artist is to write from an honest place, to express myself as fully as possible, and to hopefully inspire someone else to express themselves more.

How does “You Suck” compare to “IDK” and your previous releases?

DMS: I think “You Suck” really has more of my voice in it. When I wrote “IDK” I was pretty lost and really just didn’t know what I was doing or where to go. I allowed a lot of things to happen without really having much say or influence. “You Suck” is definitely me putting my foot down, ignoring the BS and saying exactly what I want and what I think.

I thought “You Suck” was about your ex.

DMS: Everyone thinks that! It’s not about an ex, it’s not about a friend, it’s about a random person at work who was being an absolute dick, and in the end their influence really shouldn’t matter or impact my life that much.

What are the main themes that you explore in your music?

DMS: Recently I feel like I’ve been exploring my own anger, and other places that I don’t feel like I can speak up in. I’ve been exploring the parts of ourselves that we are ashamed of and try to hide. I’ve also explored a lot about suicidal ideation, and have tried to speak about it in a way that people do not have to feel shame around it. Really I just want us to be able to explore the sides or ourselves that we have deemed as unworthy or “bad”, because I really don’t think that any part is bad, we’re all human, we’re all experiencing this insane life together, and I want us to be able to talk about it more.

How did you get into looping?

DMS: I have always been a fan of looping, but I didn’t start to play with a looper until Covid. I moved to Los Angeles a month before Covid, and I had all these dreams of collaborating with other artists and musicians here, but lockdown happened and I couldn’t meet any other artists, so I decided to get a looping pedal and create my own little one-man band.

What do you hope fans ultimately take away from song?

DMS: I want people to realize that people suck sometimes, and it’s ok, and it’s definitely ok to remove them from your life or to put them in a place that’s manageable. It’s not always possible to completely get rid of them, but I do think it’s our responsibility to try to arranger our relationships in a way that is healthy and can bring the best out in ourselves.

What music artists are you influenced by?

DMS: OMG there are sooooo many. I have so many favorites across so many genres, but if I had to pick a few I would say: Matt Corby, Tash Sultana, H.E.R., DRAMA, PawPaw Rod, Billie Eilish, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Shakey Graves, and of course Doechii!

Do you have a message for your fans?

DMS: Thank you! Thank you for supporting my music, and listening and sharing your stories and how you relate to the music. It’s been amazing to see how people bring their own experience to the music. I love you all! You’re doing great and we need you in this world!

Devon Michael Sedrick’s “You Suck” is available on all major streaming platforms: orcd.co/ yousucknewsingle

Visit devonmichaelsedrick.com. Follow on IG @ devonmichaelsedrick

By Shane Gallagher