Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Manalo.
Chad, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Loma Linda, a small town known for being a medical hub about an hour east of LA. I decided to take a chance on myself along with 2 other friends and attended the Los Angeles Recording School in 2010. After completing their 11-month program, I felt intimated by the city and all the professionals in the audio field and decided to move back home.
Being a musician, I had the opportunity to tour the country and eventually the world playing with different artists across multiple genres from 2012-2018, but throughout this time I always felt the need to move back to LA and pursue the grind and hustle that so many producers, musicians, & audio engineers that I looked up to did. After two years of wrestling with myself, I finally built up enough courage and drive to make the move back to LA in 2020, and three weeks after moving in and signing the lease to a studio with three of my friends, ALL of LA was shut down due to the COVID Pandemic.
The months that followed the shutdown were filled with uncertainty, doubt, anxiety, & plans to give up and move back home as we were now stuck with a studio with no business or clients. But despite all of this, I still felt the need to persevere and push through; six months later, I got a call to do a gig for a commercial shoot (something I’ve never done before), and a little after that a call to do a music video, then to run sound for a live stream show, then random artists would send me a dm on Instagram asking me to produce or mix a song for them.
Slowly but surely my name was getting around town as my phone and Instagram messages started blowing up and I found myself running sessions in world-class studios that I only dreamed of being in when I was at LARS, like The Village, Capitol, EastWest, & many more. Things really started to pick up in 2022, when live shows and more in-person events were gearing back up, and I had the opportunity to run sound for the first-ever Children & Family Emmy Awards, followed by the Special Merit Awards Ceremony for the Grammys, and the Motion Picture Sound Editor’s Golden Reel Awards.
Today, I keep my schedule pretty busy, running sessions for clients in my studio in Sherman Oaks, producing independent artists as well as creating music for film & tv, along with doing live sound for various events and shows around the city. I also enjoy sharing my experience and my journey so far through my podcast: Chad & Chong Podcast, which you can find on Apple Podcast, Spotify, & YouTube.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road at all. There have been many challenges along the way like the COVID pandemic. Not having any source of income or plan for close to a year. Mental struggles, like feeling inadequate or comparing myself to other more accomplished professionals has been extremely tough to navigate. Not having a road map and trying to create your own path through this industry is another challenge. There have been way more downs than ups, but getting through the lows makes the highs even more worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a musician, music producer, professional studio & live sound engineer and podcast host. I started my career playing bass for multiple artists and traveled the world for close to a decade as a musician. I am now known mostly as a producer & sound engineer. I am most proud of being able to help artists & creatives realize their full potential through collaboration and offering my expertise. I think what sets me apart from others is the amount of care and excellence that I put into not only the results but the experience that I help craft throughout the journey. I believe the journey is as important if not more important than the results, as your experience throughout your journey helps craft the end result.
What matters most to you?
People matter the most to me. It’s people who create great art, and it’s people who experience the art that you create. People impact people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chadmanalo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xchadmanalo/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/xchadmanalo
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/@ChadAndChong
Image Credits
Gatra Suhari Devon Nelwan
