Meet Michael Ung

We were lucky to catch up with Michael Ung recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

The Military,
A Year after I Graduated High School (2002) I joined the Army (2004) as an 11B Infantryman. So other than what i was taught growing up, I learned everything I know as an adult, simply, from the Army.
Everything from my structure, planning, scheduling, layouts, checklists, hands on inspection, how my day is structured,
to even things like, HOW to speak or address someone, customs and courtesies, and simply having the discipline to be aware, and to conduct myself as a professional at all times, Living by the Army Values every day. .. and then growing as a LEADER in the Army, I achieved the Rank of E-5 (SGT) and team leader/ squad leader., and along with the help of NCO professional development schools, and leadership courses in the Army, eventually, leading young and grown men into combat situations. you tend to learn how to conduct yourself pretty quickly .. but I think most importantly learning the steps and the things you need to know being a leader. the work ethic comes hand in hand.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

well, I am a Hip hop and pop punk rock music artist commonly known as “The Sarge” given my previous title in the US Army, My Music, message, mission and goal is to support and advocate for veterans, and anyone that struggle with PTSD, and depression. My music and message help those that can relate to these things and lets people know they are not alone.

I started my music career in 2013 when I officially got released from the Army. I had spent 9 years as an 11b Infantryman from 2004-2013. I completed 2 combat deployments (1 in Iraq 2005, and 1 in Afghanistan 2009). I was released from my last duty station in Ft Bliss (El Paso) TX where I got MEDICALLY discharged for combat PTSD, + Depression, and T.B.I.
I actually started writing before I got out, but I didn’t start recording and releasing until 2013, I had achieved the rank of E-5 (SGT), even after I got discharged, everyone I knew around me kept calling me “Sarge” (because of my rank) so the name stuck as an artist.
I had attempted to perform my Very first performance out in El Paso TX, which ended up being an absolute Disaster of an embarrassment. I ended up so nervous, that I forgot my lyrics and absolutely Bombed my set! vowing myself ” I would never perform again!”
After a few years of struggling while transitioning into civilian life, for medical reasons, I was pushed into moving to Colorado Springs CO in 2015, where I started getting into podcasting and ended up working for an internet radio station in Denver CO called; 80 Generations. I learned the ropes of the Colorado music scene, and we threw my very first marketed and promoted event for my Birthday where I booked “Bezz Believe” back when he was on BWA (Kevin Gate’s Label) so at that time he was a big deal. After a few months I left and started my Own Internet radio station called MOUNTAIN HIGH 10 RADio, which was later re branded to Mountain High X Radio, which was a 24/7 music programed and scheduled radio station, that catered to the local, and up & coming artist scene NATIONWIDE, which spread international as well. We were also Throwing LIVE LOCAL music showcases and Events, and booking Headlining acts to give Local artist and opportunity for exposure and stage performing experience, some of these headline acts include; Twisted, Tech N9ne, Luniz, NB Rydas, second Chance, KottonMouth Kings, Ruff Rydas, ICP, AfroMan, Lil Wyte, Lil Flip, Dev, and more!
our platform reaching to an average of 1.2k listeners /viewers a day. it later rebranded AGAIN to Mountain High X Entertainment, Because at this point we were throwing bigger events, and we added a 420 Influence team and a video game streaming team. I spent the next 7- 8 years building that and my name in Colorado.
about 2021 I let all of that go and went to college, Attended Full Sail University, and achieved my Bachelors Degree in Audio Production. which opened my eyes to a whole new world of AUDIO beyond Music Production! and have been given countless opportunities in this career path that has taken me beyond Just Music!
so far I have been involved as a Foley artist, sound designer, and audio post production in 2 indie short films. one entitled “The Devil’s Bend” by dir Louie Duran, who happens to be my wife’s cousin. which led me to my next project with director Mingway Lee in “Peek”. I currently I still write and perform Hip Hop and Pop Punk Rock Music with my band, which also allows my seasonal schedule room for Music Production clients, audio stagehand work, throwing occasional local music events, and other film projects (currently my music video for a new song I’m releasing)

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Structure and discipline / professionalism

being able to listen and learn

motivation

and id have to also add consistency, even though it asks for 3,

I guess the best advice I can give is to learn these qualities. without the motivation your just not going to be able to give yourself the drive you need to keep going, don’t act like a know it all. stay humble and learn new things, don’t take advice from people that aren’t where you want to be.
and most importantly, as an artist, its still representing your brand, which means you have to conduct yourself professional at al times, Learn to separate Personal life from work and business, and don’t get the two involved with each other.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

Living, taking every moment in, doing new things, taking myself out of my norm and comfort zone, I would take more risks, and I would want to leave a legacy for my kids to be able to either continue or live off of before I die.

but most importantly.. just LIVING the last 10 years to the fullest and not wasting my time

Contact Info:

Image Credits

I own all rights to images

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