Today we’d like to introduce you to Terry Mchailen
Hi Terry, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in post-Soviet Russia, where my uncle had a collection of classic rock vinyl records from bands like Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Pink Floyd, and Queen. I was completely captivated by the music, and at the age of 7, I picked up a guitar and never looked back. By 13, I was already playing in different bands, and later, I studied classical music in college. But no matter what, my heart always gravitated toward rock ‘n’ roll.
By the time I was 25, I was a working musician, constantly gigging. However, due to various circumstances, I had to leave Russia and move to the USA to continue pursuing my dream. For the last 10 years, I’ve been playing 3-4 shows a week with my cover band, The Brobots. During that time, I made numerous attempts to start an original project, but they all fell through—until now.
I’m thrilled to say that I’ve finally put together a project called Melted Mirrors. We’re playing our first show on August 16th at Harvelle’s in Santa Monica.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely been a bumpy road for me. Growing up in Russia in the early 90s was no joke. The environment was tough, and my family was pretty dysfunctional, leaving me with some lingering childhood traumas that I’m still working through. As an artistic, introverted kid with a free-spirited, open mind, I never really fit in with the strict Russian environment, so I was constantly battling to find my place.
Later on, a series of serious events in my life led me to fly to the U.S., but that’s a story for another time – it’s not exactly lighthearted.
A few years before I moved here, I was lucky enough to meet my wife. She grew up in an environment even more difficult than mine, but our troubled souls connected. Together, we managed to turn our lives around when things were quickly heading downhill.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve been a musician for pretty much my whole life—I’ve always known what I wanted to do. I studied classical guitar in college and even won a few international competitions in the field. Since my early teens, I’ve been playing in different bands and writing music. While I mostly sing and play guitar, I can also play multiple other instruments like drums, keys, and bass. Over the years, I’ve played thousands of shows with different bands.
For the last 10 years, I’ve made a living playing in a cover band called The Brobots, which I started with some good friends in Venice Beach. Now, I’ve finally put together my own original project, Melted Mirrors, and I’m incredibly proud of it. For the first time in my music career, I feel like I’m creating something that has the potential to be truly meaningful and impactful.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
There are so many things and thoughts I’d love to share with the world. But the most important thing I want to say is that in today’s crazy world, it feels like we’re becoming more and more disconnected from each other, and people are getting extremely polarized. I think that’s dangerous, and we should at least try to stop this trend.
As someone who’s half Russian and half Ukrainian, it’s been surreal to witness what’s happening in those countries. I’ve personally experienced what an autocratic regime feels like, and I really hope that people in America can choose to never go down that path. This country is free and great, and I hope it stays that way.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themeltedmirrors/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meltedmirrors/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/meltedmirrors
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MeltedMirrors
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/melted-mirrors
- Other: https://linktr.ee/meltedmirrors
