Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily (MLE) Dang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Emily (MLE), thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

Yes, my mother forced me to learn piano at the young age of about 5 years old. I remember enjoying the lessons when I was learning the beginning basics in one-on-one classes with a Vietnamese Female instructor, however, I quit as soon as I advanced to the group classes with a Caucasian Male instructor. Reflecting on it now that I am pursuing my passion in the music industry, I do wish that I stuck with the piano lessons since I was young because I could have been a prodigy! Music still has been my lifelong passion, so I did end up asking my father to get me a keyboard for a Christmas gift and taught myself piano again in fifth grade, around the age of 10. Throughout middle school, I began learning other instruments like guitar, ukulele, and snare drum out of pure interest as well. However, when I stumbled upon Choir in High School and advanced to positions like Section Leader and Assistant Music Director/Conductor, I really did wish I stuck with the piano lessons when I was younger because I had to re-learn music theory and cite reading, which are skills that are heavily practiced in piano. Therefore, in that sense, I DO wish I had started my creative career sooner.

I feel that my songwriting journey began at the right time in my life because I had just graduated high school during the Covid-19 pandemic, and gone through a rough breakup. Although, when I began creating in studios or collaborating with producers, it still made me regret not sticking with the piano lessons from when I was 5 because I definitely could have used those skills and musical knowledge to help me with producing, and possibly even make it easier to learn how to mix/master my own vocals if I had a more extensive knowledge of music theory.

Despite all this, I still am grateful that my journey as a solo songwriter has begun at the age I am at currently because I feel that I have acquired adequate knowledge, experiences, and emotions to write meaningful songs and portray these feelings to my intended audiences and create more impactful or influential experiences through my art. I released my first original song at the age of 19 and began performing around 20, so it worked out that I turned 21 by the time I began getting booked to perform at venues like clubs, bars, wineries, and lounges. So in that sense, I DO NOT wish I started my creative career sooner.

Emily (MLE), love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a lover and light worker so I believe in feeling and healing. After I graduated from high school in 2020, it was a transformative time in my life where I endured the Covid-19 Pandemic, got broken up with, began songwriting, and started college. From then until 2024, I continued my journey as an upcoming music artist and obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Cal State Long Beach with the interest of pursuing Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy. Whether it is through music or therapy, I aim to help the masses feel and heal.

In December 2020, one of my friends from high school asked me if he could use my Macbook to download a trial for Logic X Pro because his subscription expired. I agreed and when he came over to make music, he remembered that I sang as well. He asked me to hop on the Chorus of his track so we made a bop that my friends and family ended up really enjoying. This sparked the encouragement from my peers and my personal interest in beginning a songwriting career. Prior to this, instruments, cover videos, talent shows, and school choir were the extent of my musical background. Now I began getting introduced to the whole new world of being an artist that included songwriting, producing beats, engineering vocals, recording in studios, performing live, filming music videos, and music business/marketing.

For the first 3 months of my songwriting journey, I was only finding my beats from YouTube until March 2021 when I met some fellow musicians who introduced themselves to my mother as EDM Producers from Long Beach. Once my mom mentioned that her daughter is a singer, the duo was instantly intrigued because they have been seeking female vocalists for their tracks. We exchanged information, shared songs to get an idea of each other’s sounds, and the rest is history. They helped me release my first original EDM song before my own artist profile even existed, then also helped me release my debut R&B single under my own name, MLE.

Throughout the past 4 years of my career as a music artist, I have many accomplishments and experiences to be proud of. From getting booked to perform in over 50 shows, to appearing on 4 different radio stations, to being featured in 10+ magazines/publications, I am grateful for every second of my journey. However, what really gives me a sense of purpose is being able to expand my impact with every connection I make, every person I meet, every venue I attend, and every song I perform. What is truly fulfilling to me is knowing I have a genuine support system, being able to have vulnerable interactions with my audiences, and the opportunity to influence masses through my art.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I began songwriting in 2020, began performing in 2021, and got booked for my first mini-tour in a different state in 2023/2024. So only about 2-years into my performing career, I was a victim of a scammer booking agent. He held a 3-round competition in LA for musicians to win a $2000 prize fund. I won and was promised an all-expenses-paid 5-day trip to New York with hotel, food, flight, transportation, performances, podcasts, radio interviews, and photoshoots included.

When the trip came around, I only got reimbursed for half of the plane ticket and was not placed as an authorized card user on the hotel room reservation, so I had to pay that out of pocket when I arrived in New York with the scammer booking agent nowhere to be found. So I was basically stranded in a whole new state that I have never visited, and I had to navigate the city on my own, as well as book my own shows to perform in and podcasts to be interviewed on. I did not let this ruin my opportunity to tour and network in a new state, so I went on Eventbrite and Instagram and got booked for 3 shows in New York, 1 show in New Jersey, and even 1 podcast interview in New Jersey that was broadcasted on iHeartRadio. I was even scouted by one of the club owners during my performance in Queens and got offered the opportunity to have my song be played on New York’s Radio Station Power 105.1 FM.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is when my creations are felt. Music can be listened to from wherever and by whoever, but for my sound and message and emotions to be conveyed so intimately and vulnerably that another individual can feel and experience it, then that is magic to me and I have successfully done my part. I have always been intrigued by storytellers and magicians who have the ability to captivate their audiences and influence them, so I am learning how to connect with and captivate the masses through my performances.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/mlemusic
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialmlemusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialmlemusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialmlemusic