Peruvian musician Diego Val, who is on a week-long college tour in March, made his first stop at IU Southeast on March 1.

Diego is a full-time musician and picked up his first guitar at the age of 14.

“My grandmother bought me my first guitar, and I still have it,” Val said.

Other than his native country of Peru, Val lived in Argentina, Venezuela and Chile, which made it possible for him to learn about different cultures and religions.

When he was 17 years old, Val moved to Miami with his mother.

Val said he does not read music notes but instead learned to play the guitar by watching MTV.

“When MTV used to be MTV back in the day — when they used to show music videos all the time — MTV was not just reality TV,” Val said. “I used to watch music videos, and I used to follow the fingers and different postures when they played guitar. I started out by looking.”

He said family had a major influence in his life and his music career.

“All my music is through experience and through special loves or relationships or friends or stories,” Val said.

As a child, Val had Perthes, a degenerative disease of the hip joint, which kept him in the hospital and had him depending on crutches and wheelchairs.

Val said, even though he had a disease, he was lucky and was able to learn a lot because of it. The disease made it possible for him to spend a lot of time in his room, which he wishes he could do now.

With a lifestyle bound to keep him busy, Val still makes time for others who are in need of his music. Val is a member of “Musicians on Call,” a nonprofit organization that brings musicians to the bedside of patients.

“It is the best feeling to know that you are making someone happy, and it’s not about me, it’s about them,” Val said.

When asked whom he has been compared to musically, he said, “John Meyer, Jack Johnson meets Incubus and Maroon 5 with a little bit of Ricky Martin.”

With a capability of singing in both English and Spanish, Val has a wide fanbase.

“At shows there could be 3,000, 4,000, 100, 200, or four, or three or seven people,” Val said.

He said it is about doing his job and loving what he does.

Val enjoys being on a college tour because he said he gets to meet a variety of students and spread some kind advice.

“Make sure you do what you love, and be happy and enjoy life because you only live one life,” Val said.

Val received the opportunity to go on a 10 day college tour since he is part of National Association for Campus Activities.

“His agent contacted us,” Matt Nelson, business junior and Student Program Council member, said.

The SPC finds artists through NACA.

The day before his performance at IU Southeast, Val privately auditioned for “The Voice” in Miami. He said he has high hopes of being on the show and anticipates an opportunity to work with Adam Levine, lead singer of Maroon 5 and judge on “The Voice.”

Last year, Val said Maroon 5 invited him to tour with them through South America, but Val had to decline due to restrictions imposed by NACA. Val had pre-booked shows through NACA and, since he was in a contract with them, he had to turn down Maroon 5.

In five years, Val said he hopes to be doing what he loves — performing and sharing his music.

“Being happy, making it where I want to be, touring the world and sharing my music with everybody, but most importantly being happy and stable,” he said.

By ANA-MARIJA DRINOVAC

Staff

adrinova@umail.iu.edu