Draft:Derek Sanders

Derek Michael Sanders (born July 11, 1986) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead singer and pianist for the pop punk band,

Derek Sanders
Born
Derek Michael Sanders

(1986-07-11) July 11, 1986 (age 40)[1][2]
OriginTallahassee, Florida, U.S.
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
Years active2005–present
Websitedereksandersmusic.com
Musical career
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboard
LabelRise Records
Member ofMayday Parade

Derek Michael Sanders (born July 11, 1986) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead singer and pianist for the pop punk band, Mayday Parade. Additionally, he has released music as a solo artist, releasing two EPs, My Rock and Roll Heart (2020) and The Heavy Box (2023).

Early life

Raised in Tallahassee, Florida, Sanders attended and graduated from Lincoln High School.[3] After receiving his first guitar at ten years old, he began writing songs and joined various local bands.[4]

Career

Derek Sanders performed in the band Defining Moment, along with bassist Jeremy Lenzo and guitarist Brooks Betts. After meeting another band Kid Named Chicago, which features singer Jason Lancaster, guitarist Alex Garcia and drummer Jake Bundrick, the two groups decided to merge into one, forming Mayday Parade.[5][6] Sharing lead vocal duties with Lancaster, he would later leave the band in 2007, and Sanders became the lead vocalist full-time.[6] With the band, he is featured on all seven studio album releases: A Lesson in Romantics (2007), Anywhere but Here (2009), Mayday Parade (2011), Monsters in the Closet (2013), Black Lines (2015), Sunnyland (2018) and What It Means to Fall Apart (2021).[7]

In 2013, Sanders was featured on the song "Time for a Sign" by William Beckett on his first album Genuine & Counterfeit.[8] He also collaborated with Zack & Ken, Jason Lancaster and Cody Carson on the track "Gotta Be Strong", released in 2015.[9] He was featured on Knuckle Puck's single "Breathe", released in 2020, from their album 20/20.[10]

On January 17, 2020, Sanders released a cover of "A Praise Chorus" by Jimmy Eat World. Along with the release, he announced his first solo EP My Rock and Roll Heart, released on February 14. The EP consists of covers of bands that were an influence to Sanders, which includes Jimmy Eat World, Something Corporate, Saves the Day, the Juliana Theory and Goodbye Love, a local Tallahassee band.[11] He explained the EP as "his love for music is based on his youth."[4] Speaking about his decision to release solo music, he said he wanted to "work on something different."[12] On February 11, he released a cover of "But Lauren" by Goodbye Love.[4] He originally recorded the cover back in 2017, as a Valentines Day gift dedicated to his then-wife, Lauren.[13]

He co-wrote the song "Feel Something" by Magnolia Park, released in 2022.[14] On March 8, 2023, he released an original song titled, "Howell Canyon".[15] The song serves as the lead single from his second EP, The Heavy Box, released on April 14, via Rise Records.[16] The process of the EP had been in the works for a while, with the first track being recorded three years prior, titled "Home".[17]

Musical influences

Sanders started listening to emo music in high school, citing early musical influences from Jimmy Eat World, Saves The Day and Further Seems Forever.[18] He later cited Dashboard Confessional and Ben Folds as his current influences.[19] On songwriting, Sanders said a lot of his inspiration comes from "whatever is happening in my life, and whatever I'm going through."[20] He cites Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional as his main influence for songwriting.[19]

Personal life

Sanders met his ex-wife Lauren Wilhelm when the two were in high school and were in an on-and-off relationship.[21] They eventually got married, but divorced sometime around 2021.[22] He started dating his second wife Hallie Wright in 2022, and got engaged in December 2023. The two married on October 4, 2025.[23] As of 2022, Sanders resides in Tallahassee, Florida.[3] He has two kids, a daughter and a son.[24][3]

Discography

With Mayday Parade

Main article: Mayday Parade discography

Extended plays

List of EPs with selected details
Title Details
My Rock and Roll Heart
The Heavy Box
  • Released: April 14, 2023[26]
  • Label: Rise
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

List of singles as lead artist
Title Year Album
"A Praise Chorus"[27] 2020 My Rock and Roll Heart
"But Lauren"[28]
"Anywhere but My Arms"[29]
(with Yung Scruff) 		Non-album single
"Howell Canyon"[30] 2023 The Heavy Box

Other appearances

Title Year Artist(s) Album Notes Ref.
"I Told You So" 2013 Dazy the Girl Non-album singles Guest vocals [31]
"Gotta Be Strong" 2015 Zack & Ken, Jason Lancaster and Cody Carson [9]
"Breathe" 2020 Knuckle Puck 20/20 [10]
"Feel Something" 2022 Magnolia Park Baku's Revenge Guest vocals, songwriter [32]

References

  1. ^ @dereksanders (July 11, 2020). "Thanks for the birthday wishes! Hope everyone has a great day" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Logan Melia (November 14, 2025). "KRUI Interview: Derek Sanders of Mayday Parade". KRUI-FM. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c Ana Goñi-Lessan (March 29, 2022). "Millennials make their mark: A running list of Leon County's most notable young alumni". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Koltan Greenwood (February 11, 2020). "Derek Sanders shares moving acoustic cover first recorded for his wife". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  5. ^ "Mayday Parade". Billboard. August 29, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  6. ^ a b Jeff Niesel (October 16, 2015). "Punk Rockers Mayday Parade Return with Their Most Nuanced Album to Date". Cleveland Scene. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  7. ^ Apar, Corey. "Mayday Parade | Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  8. ^ "Album Review: William Beckett - 'Genuine and Counterfeit'". The Music. August 11, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  9. ^ a b "Derek Sanders, Jason Lancaster, Cody Carson celebrate Father's Day with 'Gotta Be Strong'". Alternative Press. June 15, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  10. ^ a b "Knuckle Puck & Derek Sanders Keep Their Cool On New Single 'Breathe'". Wall of Sound. June 18, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  11. ^ Koltan Greenwood (January 17, 2020). "Derek Sanders announces solo EP with Jimmy Eat World cover". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  12. ^ Joe DeAndrea (February 14, 2020). "Derek Sanders Bares His 'Rock and Roll Heart' on Debut Solo Outing". PopCrush. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  13. ^ Eva Zhu (February 18, 2020). "Derek Sanders - My Rock and Roll Heart". Exclaim!. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  14. ^ "Credits Derek Sanders". Dork. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  15. ^ Shannon Garner (March 13, 2023). "Derek Sanders – Howell Canyon". Euphoria Magazine. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  16. ^ "Mayday Parade's Derek Sanders has announced a new solo EP". Dork. March 8, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  17. ^ Melanie Mae Williamson (March 23, 2023). "The Heavy Box EP and More: Exclusive Interview with Derek Sanders". Music Scene Media. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  18. ^ "Derek Sanders (Mayday Parade) found time to record acoustic covers EP". Alternative Press. February 15, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  19. ^ a b "20 Years of Mayday Parade Derek Sanders Reflects on Milestones Music and Memorable Moments". Heavy Magazine. March 29, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  20. ^ "Derek Sanders - Mayday Parade 'Living For the Golden Days'". Wall of Sound. November 18, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  21. ^ Zack Zarrillo (April 22, 2014). "POZ Interview: Derek Sanders and Lauren Wilhelm". PropertyofZack.com. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  22. ^ Ali Shutler (May 5, 2023). "Mayday Parade on new song 'More Like A Crash,' touring with Yellowcard, and nostalgia". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  23. ^ Maria Serra (October 6, 2025). "Mayday Parade's Derek Sanders Officially Tied The Knot This Weekend". idobi Radio. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  24. ^ Kelsey Trevan (September 5, 2025). "Derek Sanders - Mayday Parade 'It's Tough to Balance Dad Mode And Work Mode'". Wall of Sound. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  25. ^ "My Rock and Roll Heart - EP by Derek Sanders". Apple Music. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  26. ^ "The Heavy Box - EP by Derek Sanders". Apple Music. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  27. ^ "A Praise Chorus - Single by Derek Sanders". AllMusic. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  28. ^ "But Lauren - Single by Derek Sanders". AllMusic. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  29. ^ "Anywhere but My Arms - Single by Derek Sanders". Apple Music. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  30. ^ "Howell Canyon - Single by Derek Sanders". AllMusic. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  31. ^ "I Told You So (feat. Derek Sanders) - Single by Dazythegirl". Apple Music. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  32. ^ "Feel Something (feat. Derek Sanders) - Single by Magnolia Park". Apple Music. Retrieved May 6, 2026.

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