What’s In Your Fridge is where the Straight asks interesting Vancouverites about their life-changing concerts, favourite albums, and, most importantly, what’s sitting beside the Heinz ketchup in their custom-made Big Chill Retropolitan 20.6-cubic-foot refrigerators.

On the grill

Devours

Who are you

I am a Vancouver-based synth pop gaylien who writes confessional queer bedroom anthems about nostalgia, masculinity, love, and longing. My sophomore album Iconoclast came out in March 2019 on Artoffact Records.

First concert

My first concert was a slam dunk - the Tea Party and Econoline Crush in Victoria, 1997. Long story short, it was perfection, and I've been a die-hard CanCon disciple ever since.

Life-changing concert

Honestly, getting to play Victory Square Block Party last September was pretty life-changing for me. It had been a dream for many years, and I'm so grateful that I got to experience it from the stage. As a spectator, Edgefest totally shook me as a teen. 1998, Thunderbird Stadium, stacked bill—Green Day, Foo Fighters, Matthew Good Band, Bif Naked, underrated Vancouverites Copyright, and my newest obsession at the time...Creed. My Own Prison had just come out and I was fully on board and willing to give myself, body and soul, to Scott Stapp.

Top three records

Aqua Aquarium: Europop legends who totally nailed their sound and aesthetic straight out of the gate. 

The Strokes Is This It The album that single-handedly rescued me from nu metal. I had been travelling down a dark path of angry white boy rap-rock for years, and as soon as I saw the video for "Hard to Explain" on MuchMusic's the Wedge, I was a changed man. I still remember going to A&B Sound in Nanaimo, and only having enough money for one album—Is This It, or Limp Bizkit's Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavoured Water. Tough call at the time, but I made the right choice, and my life has never been the same since that day.  

Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream Such a huge influence on me. It's ambitious and sounds humongous, and yet is really personal and kind of loner-y. A perfect record. 

All-time favourite music video

Missy Elliott "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)"  Wow, I don't even know where to start. "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails, "Protection" by Massive Attack, "Heart-Shaped Box" by Nirvana, "Come to Daddy" by Aphex Twin... way too many to name. My answer is always changing, but for today, let's go with the "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" by Missy Elliott. This video is incredible on so many levels. It is a true punk statement. Missy Elliott is beautiful, but not by typical Hollywood standards—so instead of succumbing to insecurity or pressures to lose weight or look more conventional for MTV, she owned who she was and blew it up to a thousand by dressing up in a huge inflatable costume to make herself look even heavier. It was in that moment that I realized that you don't need conventional beauty to be a star—you just need to own who you are and think outside the box. 

What's in your fridge

Unico Stuffed Manzanilla Green Olives. They are my fuel, they are my fire, they are my perfect little midnight snack. I burn through jars of green olives like there is no tomorrow. I sometimes treat myself and go the full mile by putting them on Stoned Wheat Thins with smoked salmon. 

Omelettes by Planet Devours. I'm not much of a cook, but I can make a mean omelette. Mushrooms, extra-aged cheddar, spinach, and sun-dried turkey are a few faves that are always in my fridge.

Raspberries from Buy-Low Foods. What can I say, I love Buy Low Foods. It is my safe haven, and honestly my second home. Raspberries are beautiful and I love eating them. I can't remember what the brand is that Buy-Low sells, but I always have raspberries from Buy-Low in my fridge. 

You can check out Devours' Iconoclast here.