For Derroy—a musician from Costa Rica, whose journey to Santa Barbara is a story of love—his latest CD is aptly titled Erotic Guitar.

Having first picked up the guitar at age five, Derroy has performed professionally since his early teens. While his formal music education in composition was at the University of Costa Rica, early inspiration came from an eclectic mix of pop, rock, and blues, as well as the distinctive Costa Rican rhythm known as tambito. With influences ranging from flamenco to African, Derroy describes his musical style as exotic, “I don’t want to fit a formula, I express my music in the style that best communicates what I want to say—and that changes from piece to piece.”

Derroy’s career in Costa Rica included composing for abstract and modern dance performances by the National Theater of Costa Rica, and work as a studio musician. Touring with Costa Rican singer songwriter Guadalupe Urbina, Derroy performed in South and Central America, Europe, Africa, and the U.S. In Senegal, the group performed for a stadium of 45,000, “The energy coming from the people, with clouds of dust rising up around them as they danced, was incredibly moving.”

And now to our love story: meeting Santa Barbara local Anne Rodriguez when she holidayed in Costa Rica, the two fell in love and married. Derroy now performs in Santa Barbara for events and parties, but is concentrating on independent projects—three albums in various styles ranging from electronica, to progressive fusion, to avant garde, “I also want to write an album that includes vocals, and that will be another style again!” Derroy laughs, “I’ve had fans who expect the same thing every time and feel disappointed, but then they listen again and enjoy something new. I am being true to my artistic vision.”

Derroy performs at Carlito’s on State Street, and his album Erotic Guitar can be purchased online at www.derroy.com.