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Peco Mc Loughlin

Peco Mc Loughlin

www.pecomusic.com , Valentine Black

Career Roadmap

Peco's work combines: Music, Writing, and Being Creative

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Day In The Life

Musician and songwriter

I write songs.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Bachelor's Degree

    English Language and Literature, General

    University College Dublin

  • Bachelor's Degree

    History, General

    University College Dublin

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Musicians & Singers:

High School

Bachelor's Degree: English Language and Literature, General

Bachelor's Degree: History, General

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

I've taken a lot of twists and turns

  • 1.

    I played in whatever band I could get into.

  • 2.

    I learned from the musicians around me.

  • 3.

    I learned other people's songs and said I want to write a song as good as that.

  • 4.

    My songs started getting attention on the local scene and radio.

  • 5.

    With every band move I tried to improve what I was doing and keep moving forward.

  • 6.

    I eventually started Valentine Black.

  • 7.

    After 2 years of hard work I self financed my debut album and released it independently.

  • 8.

    The album got good reviews and opened a lot of doors.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Society in general:

    'It's too tough an industry.' 'Are you still doing music?'- Usually from musicians who stopped being musicians. 'Why do you keep going without major success?'

  • How I responded:

    Music is a ludicrously difficult industry to have success in. But if you want to do something you can find ways to make it work. I asked myself a long time ago, if people never heard your work would you still write and play? And the answer was yes. Forget about 'Success' as such. Redefine the word to suit yourself. Set your own goals and celebrate your own successes. And be realistic. Most musicians and writers have another way of paying the bills.