Derek Stroker

This latest release by Nashville ’s Derek Stroker is a terrific example of how he has grown as an artist, his complex song arrangements, skilled musicianship, and heartfelt lyrics are enriched by his stronger, smoother vocals.

The music on Rise and Shine is diverse and captivating, owing to Stroker’s influences from blues, jazz, soul, and rock and are masterfully interwoven throughout each song. The opening track, “Rescue’” features varied tempos that eventually merge, swirling together in a rhythmic dance. “Move Your Feet” is an up-tempo jam song that encourages the listener to feel the music. The soft, easy flow of “Sweet Dreams” is enhanced by the gentle wail of the cello throughout. The call and receive between the guitar and organ on “Believe” make it a stand out track.

As with his earlier release, Take A Picture, Make A Promise, Stroker mines his innermost thoughts and feelings for his lyrics, taking the listener along on an introspective journey of life, love, and loss. In “Rescue” Stroker contemplates life’s mysteries “I've been meaning to sort things out / my mind is in the clouds / why is everything so complicated?” The simple, but very important message in “We’re All In This Together” is love, a major theme in Stroker’s lyrics. The EP closes with “Be Strong,” a slow, tender song of loss, “No one lives forever / they will live on / with the words of this song.”

Stroker crafts timeless music – it only takes one listen to become hooked on his music. (Self-released)
By: Kat Coffin - Orlando Examiner

RISE AND SHINE WITH DEREK STROKER
written by Rick Amburgey

Music City. The Country Music Mecca. The Home of Country Music. All of these phrases have been used to describe the country music scene in Nashville. Although Nashville will always be primarily focused on creating country music, there’s been more and more artists that have chosen to record non-country projects in Nashville.

Enter Derek Stroker. The Nashville-based singer/songwriter is not country, but he’s created his own sound and he’s getting attention – both in Nashville and on the national level. He’s going to be playing at 12th and Porter in Nashville on Nov. 6. His song “Believe” has been featured in “The Real World” on MTV and “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” on the E! Channel.

Stroker describes his sound as a blues-infused approach to pop-rock music. Eric Clapton’s influence is often evident in Stroker’s music. “I’ve always wanted to share the stage with Eric Clapton. He’s my cream of the crop idol among idols,” he said.

In addition to Clapton, Stroker said the new project “Rise and Shine” was really influenced by The Beatles. “I am excited about this record.” The CD is available is the usual online locations, such as ITunes. In addition, he has also been able to get the self-released CD in Best Buy stores between Florida and Nashville.

Despite Stroker’s talent and success, he hasn’t been singing very long. He started singing when he was 19 or 20 years old. He’s been playing drums since age 12 and guitar since age 14. Stroker said he began writing songs around age 16 or 17. It started by writing instrumental pieces. “You can touch a lot more people when you tell a story,” he said.

Stroker is one singer that’s looking to do more than make good music – he wants to make a difference. The cause he’s most interested in raising money for is cancer research. “I don’t think I know one person who’s not been affected by it,” he said.

Stroker’s life has been touched by cancer more than once. He explained that he’s lost both of his grandmothers to it and he also lost an aunt to breast cancer a couple of months ago. “The last song on the record, “Be Strong,” I wrote right after my grandmother passed away,” he said. Another one of his aunts was diagnosed with it. Fortunately it was caught early and she’s now in remission.

“I’m on a mission to raise $20,000 to donate to various cancer centers in the United States,” Stroker said. Fifteen percent of the proceeds from his CD will be donated to cancer centers.

Aside from his music and charity work, he has started a new company called Love.Music.Entertainment, LLC. The company offers professional Photography, Custom MySpace Profiles and Graphic Design, as well as Music Production for independent artists. Stroker describes it as a “One-Stop shop for everything an independent artist needs to boost their career to the next level.”


- Strum Magazine

Upon first listen of singer/songwriter Derek Stroker's CD, I am drawn to the first song, "Lose Control". The fun, jazzy beat is catchy, and while contemporary, also encompasses elements that could be compared to some great 1960s or 1970s musicians. My initial comparison of Stroker's overall sound was to some modern artists like Gavin DeGraw and Maroon Five. At times, hints of Edwin McCain-esque vocals caught my attention. I find it difficult to place Stroker's music stylistically; there are elements of many music genres, thus appealing to a wide range of music lovers. Rock meets jazz meets the blues is the best way to describe it.

The third track from Derek Stroker's CD, "Reality", is an honest look at the downward spiral of our country. Hitting on issues like violence and war, the song touches your heart without bringing you down. It brings awareness to the state of our nation while keeping a positive energy to the music, which I find inspiring and hopeful. As with any great album, Stroker incorporates both upbeat songs and some mellow ballads, like "Struggle". The jazz-like arrangement on that song adds a nice element and with the picture painting lyrics, the song could easily be used for a movie soundtrack. On the whole, Stroker is a unique songwriter with great energy and originality. To really get a feel for Derek Stroker's music and talent, one should grace their CD player with a copy of his new CD Take a Picture, Make a Promise.

While listening to Derek Stroker's music, you know that he has fun when he is performing. His energy and passion is evident on this album and he passes along that energy to his listeners. A graduate of the Music Production and Technology program at Valencia College, Derek Stroker hopes to create "timeless music that anyone can relate to." There is definitely something for everyone on Stroker's album; with topics like love, loss and inward growth, Stroker knows how to appeal to the masses on an emotional and realistic level. The Miami born singer/songwriter has released his latest album, Take a Picture, Make a Promise and additionally released and independently produced an EP titled "Acoustic EP". Stroker found opportunities in radio while living in Orlando, Florida, with stations like 105.9 playing his music. Currently a resident of Nashville, Stroker can currently be found performing around the Nashville area.

For more information on Derek Stroker and his music, visit www.derekstroker.com

- Article by: Leena Ingegneri

Counting just this past hour, I believe that this is the eighth time, that I have listened to Derek Stroker's newest CD, " Take A Picture, Make A Promise ". I feel so peaceful and relaxed after listening, that if I didn't have other things, that needed doing, I definitely would listen to this CD over and over, just as I listen to " The Nutcracker's Suite " during the Christmas holiday season...

Now, that I hopefully have everyone's attention, wondering how I could compare Derek's CD to " The Nutcracker's Suite ", I'll give you my reasons. First " The Nutcracker " is a symphony, full of love and wondrous emotions during a special time of the year... after listening to Derek's " Take A Picture, Make A Promise ", I find that it is also full of love and deep emotions. " Take A Picture, Make A Promise ", is a modern symphony about love and understanding, and the same emotions gathered together. If you follow the parameters that make up a symphony, Derek has given us a look at love, in a symphonic form. Especially noteworthy, is the " tie in " from the " Interlude ", to the 3rd movement of the album, which defines a symphony. He uses a very good musical method of sliding from " Interlude " right into the song "Goodbye". In fact, this little bridge is hardly noticed, unless you listen as a beautiful piano part is carried over to the next track and we hear the richness of Derek's voice.

" Take A Picture, Make A Promise ", is full of delicate expressions of music, that some will have to listen close, to understand. Others will notice these expressions all at once. This is the first CD that I've received from Derek, but I hope that many, many more will follow. Derek has found a way to blend both words and music into a perfect work of human emotions, from the beginning by " Lose Control " to the end using " Realize ", Derek ties every song together into a symphony of love and life, as well as the ups and downs that we all encounter, especially in a relationship... This is a must have CD for those warm emotional evenings, that need a start and an ending: unless you want to set the CD player to " repeat ", so that special time never really ends...

Kindest regards, Derek

- Phil Grohs

Derek Stroker's debut full-length release, Take a Picture, Make a Promise is well worth more than a cursory listen. The top-notch production is a masterful infusion of blues, jazz, soul, and rock with poignant lyrics and stunning musical arrangements.

“Lose Control,” “Green Eyes,” and “Reality” are jam laden songs that bring to mind sunny Sunday afternoon music festivals; the listener can almost smell the BBQ on the grill and feel the sun on their face. In “Reality” the organ, piano, and guitar are interwoven in a sweeping musical dance. The next three songs prominently focus on the piano, “Struggle” also features a wailing, mournful guitar, while “Interlude” is a short, dramatic instrumental leading into the touching “Goodbye.” “Naturally Together,” “Story,” and “Stay With Me” return to the more up-tempo beats that started off the CD. The last listed song “Realize” has added depth with the addition of strings. Two minutes after “Realize” ends there is a bonus hidden acoustic track, “One.”

The impressive musical arrangements are enhanced by Stroker’s inspiring lyrics and impassioned vocals. The Nashville based singer/songwriter mines his innermost thoughts and feelings for his songs, it’s up to the listener whether it’s a pep talk for himself or serving as inspiration for everyone. In “Goodbye” he sings “you can hold your head up high / you can overcome this / you can start over again” and in “One” he sings “One does not have to understand how love works to feel it.”

The combination of professional production, skillful mastering, and talented song crafting on Take a Picture, Make a Promise makes this CD a worthwhile addition to any CD collection.

His new CD, Rise and Shine is also now available check out his My Space page for details:
http://www.myspace.com/derekstroker - Kat Coffin (of Southeast Performer)