A person’s daily needs typically consist of four things: food, water, shelter and sleep. Ask Wichita State University sophomore Joel Cachero what his necessities are, and he would add one more to the list: music.

“Music is an escape. It’s like an outlet for my mind,” he said. “If I’m upset, I automatically go to my guitar. I can put love in my music, and it can also be motivation for me. I have to play my guitar for at least an hour every day.”

The 20-year-old music education major and artist from Independence, Mo., became interested in music at age 14 and began producing it in the past few years.

He began attending WSU in fall 2007 after first studying at Union College in Lincoln, Neb., for one year.

“WSU is the most friendly, welcoming school I’ve ever been to," he said. "I love how there can be people from all over the world here and everyone’s accepting."

Two of his most inspiring teachers in the School of Music at WSU are professor Dean Roush and assistant professor Craig Owens. Cachero views Roush as an amazing composer and said he considers Owens to be his closest mentor.

Cachero’s music could be described as a style of his own. His interest was originally in punk, rock and alternative, but he has since been more attracted to folk and psychedelic. He explores different finger-picking patterns and says his songs can have a Middle Eastern sound at times. Cachero feels that despite countless genres, there is more music to be discovered.

“I believe something hasn’t been done before, and I have a drive to create that something new,” he said. “People can hear one of my songs, and then the next song will sound like something completely different.”

Cachero is well practiced in a number of instruments, including guitar, percussion, piano and the Indian sitar. He also recently picked up the harp and accordion, partly because his grandmother used to play them. He’s even taking lessons because he hopes to dedicate his playing of them to her.

Cachero is a solo artist and writes his own music. The inspiration for his lyrics comes from various sources such as social issues and “profoundly nonsensical” dreams he’s had.

Some of the motives for his music are to stimulate feelings of love, gladness and even wonder.

“My lyrics are very personal,” Cachero said. “I’ve written songs for my dad about how much I appreciate him, and several for my girlfriend. I intertwine emotion into my music, and I love the way music can alter your mood.”

Through the WSU Cooperative Education Office, Cachero got an internship last October at Pleasant Valley Middle School, where he is now the assistant band teacher. While working there, he helped start the guitar band, which he now teaches. He said his experience as an intern has been rewarding.

“It has changed my view on teaching in a very good way,” he said. “I get the opportunity to show kids things that they can learn and use.”

Cachero plans on attending graduate school at WSU with an ultimate goal of becoming a guitar professor.