Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Terrado
Hi Matthew, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I came to Minneapolis from San Diego, California in 2009 to go to college for Music Performance in guitar. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do after college but I did know that I wanted a career in music. Towards the end of college, I got a job at Costco, which was a good job for a college kid. I had benefits and was paid more than minimum wage. In my last semester of college, my wife (girlfriend at the time) became pregnant with our first child. The pregnancy put a damper on my pursuit of a music career. Being a musician isn’t the most stable job and I needed stability for my new family. I felt stuck because my job at Costco was stable and provided for my family but I hated not doing what I felt I was best at; being a creative. I dreaded going into work everyday.
6 years and 2 more kids later, I decided that something needed to change. We packed up and moved to San Diego in 2019. I continued to work at Costco but only part time. We moved in with my parents to save money. During this time, I took an interest in videography. I had a cheap DSLR camera that I had no idea how to use so I watched youtube video after youtube video to learn the art of videography. I started filming family outings and making home videos with my newly found knowledge. I became obsessed with learning more about the art of story telling through filming and editing. I had a knack for it and caught on pretty fast. 6 months into learning and teaching myself, I decided that I wanted to pursue my own videography business. I bought all the gear I’d need to film typical freelance gigs. I quit Costco and started working full time as a filmmaker.
3 months into being a full time freelancer, COVID hit and put a pause on everything that was happening. The impact of COVID forced me to look into getting a job elsewhere. River Valley Church (in Apple Valley, MN) was hiring a filmmaker and I jumped at the opportunity. We moved back to Minnesota in August of 2020 and I joined the film team at River Valley Church.
I’m currently still employed at River Valley Church on the film team and I love what I do. We’re making high quality impactful films. I also track guitar for local artists around the twin cities.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely been a challenging road. My wife and I were so young and hadn’t figured out what we wanted to do in life when we had our first daughter. I had to work a stable job that I strongly disliked in order to provide for my family. I reached my breaking point to where I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing because we were all unhappy. That’s when I put the pedal to the metal and spent time learning a new craft. COVID really turned my plans around. I took my newly acquired skills and put them to use in another way. I tend to struggle with self doubt. I think that everyone is their worst critique and we constantly battle ourselves. It’s easy to look at what other people are doing and compare yourself to their work. Sometimes I need to remind myself to put the blinders on and look forward and to not be distracted by what other people are doing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I shoot and edit videos, mainly for River Valley Church, as well as play guitar for my band, “Sound School,” and other local music artists. For video, I specialize in filmic looks and creative story telling that moves and inspires the viewer. For music, I specialize in experimental R&B. I’d say I’m most proud of a Mother’s Day video that I edited in 2024. The video went viral on Instagram and racked up over 15 million views in the first few days it came out. I’m really proud of my band, “Sound School.” There’s really nothing like it (that I know of). I think my versatility sets me apart from others in both video and music. I appreciate a variety of different genres and I let them influence my work.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Being happy, at peace and leaving an honorable legacy matters to me the most. Find whatever it is that makes you happy and pursue that. For me, God is what I pursue. When I was younger, I used to think that your vocation is what defined you. I was constantly pursuing accolades that really didn’t matter in the end. After having 4 kids, all I care about is making sure they have a happy life. A life that they can look back on and be proud of the way their dad raised them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewterrado/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthew.terrado
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-terrado-5614068b/
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sound-school/1642982415
