Rocking the Boat: Chase The Comets Musical Escape from Russia to Pursue the American Dream
In this insightful podcast episode, Brian is joined by the musical duo Alex and Nika from Chase The Comet who offer a candid and in-depth look into their personal and artistic journey from their native Russia to the United States. They begin by sharing the complex web of legal issues that they navigated in order to emigrate, including the lengthy and uncertain visa application process, and the financial struggles that came with self-funding their move and establishing themselves in a new country.
The conversation takes a sombre turn as they delve into the impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine on the Russian artistic community. They describe a climate of fear and oppression, where artists who dare to oppose the war face severe repercussions, such as being blacklisted from performing or being pressured into publicly supporting the regime's actions, leading to what they describe as a cultural regression within Russia.
Despite the risks, Alex and Nika speak out boldly against the current Russian regime. They share their belief in the power of music as a force for change and justice, and how they have channelled their convictions into their craft. They introduce their latest project, "Ill.U.Me.Nation. Part I: Inception," an album that is both a reflection on the tumultuous state of current world events and a beacon of hope. The album is designed to uplift listeners and foster a sense of solidarity and resilience in the face of adversity.
Throughout the episode, the duo emphasizes their unwavering passion for music and their commitment to their audience. They discuss how they strive to connect with listeners on an emotional level, creating powerful performances and producing meaningful music that resonates with people's experiences and aspirations. Despite the hardships they have faced, Alex and Nika's dedication to their art shines through, as they continue to inspire and entertain their fans around the world.
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Nika Comet+Alex Mishustov
Singer+guitarist for Chase the Comet
In 2016 frontwoman Nika Comet and guitarist Alex Mishustov, a couple of high school sweethearts, left behind successful music careers and families in Moscow, Russia to pursue the American dream.
Both Nika and Alex had an impressive resume by that moment - Alex opened up for Metallica, Muse and Linkin Park (to name a few!) on stadiums in cities of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus and Nika worked with one of the oldest Russian punk-rock bands as a backing vocalist! They also went to the finals of a TV-show (like "American Idol") as part of their original band.
They moved to Los Angeles and started it all from scratch by playing in well-known venues and events, such as Whisky a Go-Go and Tattoo Expo. They went on a few US tours playing in more than 20 cities and 7 states. In 2020 they collaborated with Infected Rain's frontwoman Lena Scissorhands on a cover of t.A.T.u.'s "All The Things She Said". The video for the cover released on Napalm Records' YouTube channel has gained over 1 M views while the video for their original song "Gone" has gained over 200 K views on Facebook.
During COVID the band struggled greatly with their documents' issues but stayed very interactive with their international online following on social media. They eventually received their O-1 visa for people with extraordinary abilities while also playing multiple shows in other countries, even taking part in SoFar Sounds acoustic events.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 the band explicitly supported their Ukrainian friend… Read More
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