My friend Billy Kotchkoski told me he saw a book of photos by a photographer and in the book there was a picture of a bunch of black children. One of the girls was named Dereka. Well, my name's Derek but I thought Dereka was not only too obvious but it looks ugly. So I started spelling it Derica.

Cleveland area including Cleveland Hts., Lakewood, some suburbs. I like to tour, too.

If only the pay sites were thought of before the original Napster was, things could've been a lot different/better in some ways.

For a fair deal, sure.

Born near Pittsburgh, now living near Cleveland, D has been recording and playing out for many years despite being only in his mid-twenties. He did his time as a teen in coffeehouses, where you still might find him late on some rainy nights, and in the obligatory emo-punk bands before "graduating" to record and tour with Cobra Verde at age 21, supporting the legendary Mike Watt, The Breeders, and J. Mascis. Since leaving Cobra Verde, D has also been the bassist for Cleveland 80’s metal act Breaker which has a huge following overseas and has opened for the likes of UFO, and Uli Roth (ex-Scorpions). He's also appeared many times with his own projects, The Atomic Crash and his most recent band, The Square Casanovas as well as playing regular solo gigs. In addition to appearing on Cobra Verde's album "Easy Listening", Derica released a slew of limited EPs before his vinyl only mini-LP, "When the Train Left the Station,” came out jointly on Dhyana Records (Germany) and Handsome Productions in 2003.

Two years in the making, the sequel, MEDICATE, released on England's ACOSM Records, contains some of Derek's most mature and developed work to date, including the title track, the folk-tinged, Howe Gelb-influenced lament of "a lonely tranny in a motel room", and "These Things I Have Come to Fear," a collaboration with noted Ohio poet C. Allen Rearick. MEDICATE's themes range from the political in "(I Am the) One Percent," to the romantic in the love ballad "Can't U See That I'm Falling," to the deeply personal in the banjo-driven highway song, "Exit 2-3-1" (which, should anyone wonder, concerns real fears, real dreamings, and a real exit). D also includes his own arrangements of traditional songs such as "Ain't No Tellin' " and "Coal Creek March" that showcase his instrumental skills and provide a pause for reflection.

Alone, navigating urban seascapes with the world on his shoulders and his hair in his eyes, Derica hangs on tight to his guitar, because sometimes it's all he's got. If you've ever felt the same way, listen to MEDICATE. You'll feel like you finally found a friend; and who knows, maybe you just did.

Chris Whitley, Rainer Ptacek, Jimmy Page, Skip James, John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Son House, Charley Patton, Leadbelly.

Iowa City is nice and mellow. Columbus is a lot of fun. Chicagoland's a lot of fun too. But I really like Pennsylvania anywhere because I'm originally from there.

Galveston dobros (black and sunburst), Gold Tone Dojo (Banjo/Dobro hybrid), Crybaby Original Wah-Wah, Dunlop metal thumbpicks, Fender Blues Jr. amp.