We recently connected with Dale Edward Chung and have shared our conversation below.
Dale Edward, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I think the biggest risk I’ve taken was quitting my 9-5 job to pursue a career in music with no real plan. Thanks to the encouragement of my mom, I took a leap of faith. That was over 20 years ago and here’s how I get to that point.
Back in the late 90s, I was with a group that was two degrees from Digital Underground. I thought that group was my last chance to finally “make it” in music. Unfortunately, we imploded and I left to the group to figure out how I wanted my future to look.
Fast forward to the early 2000s, I was working at a corporate job, producing music in my apartment and doing nothing with it. I think I had released a CD of my own of songs that were just sitting on my computer doing nothing. That was back when a start up company called CD Baby came into existence. They allowed you to burn CDs , make a label and send it to them and tell people to go there and buy it. So that’s what I did. Nothing really came of that, except I realized, I was a band leader.
So as that became my reality, I set out to be that guy.
By 2002, I was tired of working in the corporate world, as decided to take my savings, quit my job and try and forge my way into the music industry as a professional. It was really tough for the first year or so not making any real money and trying to figure out how this world of music and entrepreneurship worked. I did graphics work, built websites, and played in a friend’s cover band for not a lot of money. The cover band gig came about because I needed to meet other musicians that I would eventually work with and hire for my band and sessions.
It was through playing for that cover band that I met the drummer of the band “Con Funk Shun”, he was filling in for the drummer of the cover band one weekend. He loved my playing and took my number. If you’ve never heard of “Con Funk Shun”, do a search. You’ve probably heard their music. They had many R&B/Funk hit songs in the 70s & 80s. I grew up listening to them.
So many months later, I got a call from that drummer and he told me Con Funk Shun was looking for a percussionist for one weekend of shows in the Bay Area. They were originally from Vallejo CA, so they were doing a hometown show and wanted a fuller sound that was more like the group in their hey day. I was really nervous because they were childhood musical heroes.
I guess I did alright because the road manager took my number and eventually called me to do a show with Con Funk Shun, out on the road. I think it was the Knoxville Coliseum, then it was Aruba for BET/HBO and the calls kept coming. I was a member of Con Funk Shun for 13 years from 2003- 2016. It was an amazing time traveling all over the world playing in amphitheaters, arenas and stadiums and everything in between. My last show with them was in Tokyo Japan. The experience of playing with a group of that caliber led to me being able to work with and travel with many other singers, musicians and groups throughout the years.
However, It was time for a change… the Universe heard cry and answered.
My next step was moving to Los Angeles to further my music career. I also wanted to get into the film/acting world. I ended up winning a Latin Grammy and also working on a commercial as an actor for the Marriott hotels with legendary director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amelie) and Oscar winning Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski in Kyoto Japan.
None of the experiences I had would have happened had I not taken that risky leap of faith 20+ years ago. I’m a believer that the Universe will answer and respond positively, if you are putting positive energy into the universe.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I think my brain is split with my artistic side and my business side.
For much of my life, I let the business side rule over the artistic side. Had a job, went to school, lived a relatively normal life and my artistic side would be after work at home activity never really meshing the two together until later in life. It has been 22 blessed years since I had a regular 9-5 day job.
I’ve been lucky. Not there is anything wrong with working a 9-5 to be able to live your dream. Over the years, I’ve worked part time here and there to get me through uncertain moments.
I’m an actor, music video director, production sound mixer, composer, singer, musician, film and music producer. As a production sound mixer, my job is to record dialog on a film.
I also do post production audio clean up, so that the recorded audio sounds it’s best for the film. So I’m the audio fixer for film too.
I just finished composing music for a film that is currently in post production and will be in the film festival circuit soon. It’s called “pre deceased” by Sundance alumni, Jules Franchetto.
I’m currently working on several music projects not related to film as well. One is with Grammy winner Masa Takumi whose 2022 album, Sakura, won a Grammy award. I was a featured artist on Sakura. The new song is called Kashira and will release in August 2024.
I have several acting projects coming too. I’ve been working in the new media format this year as an actor. Viral YouTube and social media shorts and vertical film formats. I’m hoping to do more theater and book some television roles in the coming months too. Shout out to my theatrical and commercial agencies, Pandium Fusion and Prestigious Models.
I’m also a music video director. I just wrapped two music video shoots for an artist name Nina Jo Smith. The music videos have been completed and will be released soon. I’m planning on submitting them to film festivals too. I really enjoy directing and hope to do much more in the coming months.
I’m always looking for projects to act in, produce and collaborate on. So hit me up and let’s talk!
I say this all the time “I’m trying to stay busy and of trouble”. Haha! It’s the truth!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My life goal is “to not die thinking what if?” that motivates me to get up everyday and make my journey as interesting as possible given each moment I’m in. There’s a video of Denzel Washington giving a commencement speech a few years ago where he talks about the “ghosts of our regrets”. He tells the graduates to pursue the things they want to do now because when that moment comes and we are faced with the ghosts of our regrets , it will be too late. He said it so eloquently.
It’s basically the same advice that I was given when I was 18 working part time on the overnight shift at the post office. I was on lunch break and I was talking to an older long time employee about my goals of making it in music. The advice he gave me still rings in my soul today. He said “Don’t stay here” (working at the post office), go out and pursue your dreams because if you stay here the next thing you know, you’ll have “the dog, the kids, the wife and the house and you’ll be stuck”. To be clear those are not bad things at all. Quite frankly, those are lofty goals too. They just weren’t mine at the time.
His words motivated me to keep my head up and move on. Unfortunately, I don’t remember his name but I’m so grateful his words helped to guide my life. I’ve also learned that everything happens when it’s supposed to happen. So keep pushing and recognize the small miracles and accomplishments that happen every day. It keeps me motivated.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I think one of the biggest misconceptions about the creative arts is the value of it in the world and therefore a career in it doesn’t seem reasonable. I think in this country we don’t value art very much. However, I believe it’s as important as math and science. There is extreme value to all of it. Art and culture are what help to make well rounded compassionate people. Creative artists and the people that work in the industry are important and necessary.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://DaleEdwardChung.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daleedwardchung/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daleedwardchung
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daleedwardchung
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DaleEdwardChung
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/SM5m8bN85o1Mept29
- Other: Threads: @DaleEdwardChung
Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon: Dale Edward Chung
Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon: D. Edward
Image Credits
Tyson Adlao, Sheri Hastings, Jurgen Reisch, Jared Kahn, Zachary Galen, Marianne Beer