Country: Switzerland
Formed in: 2006
Location: Sargans
Website: www.thebeautyofgemina.com
Members:
Michael Sele - Words & Music, Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Mac Vinzens - Drums
David Vetsch - Bass
Marco Gassner - Guitar
Contact: markus.meier@thebeautyofgemina.com
THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA was brought to life in 2006, aimed at realising the musical vision of the charismatic singer and songwriter Michael Sele. First single SUICIDE LANDSCAPE (2007) made it to # 1 in a number of different alternative webcharts, the corresponding video reached over 100,000 Youtube views.
Their debut concert at X-tra, one of the most prestigious clubs in Zurich, was a huge success with widespread impact. The band were invited to play the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland's largest concert hall with a seating capacity of 13'000, to open for the legendary U.S. band Smashing Pumpkins. The band's name spread rapidly, not only in their home country, but to many other parts of the world. Influential DJs from London to New York, from Berlin to Tokyo, from Madrid to Cape Town, began to play the band's dark rock and to fill up the dance floors.
Initially considered as an insider tip by the international music press, the band's celebrity increased and they were soon on front covers of influential magazines. In the Swiss press there were detailed reports in popular and influential newspapers like 20min, Blick am Abend, Sonntagszeitung, Landbote, Südostschweiz, Aargauer Zeitung about the Dark Rock Sensation, as well as in international music magazines like SLAM, Rockstar Magazine, Metalhammer UK, Dominion UK Unscene Magazine, Asylum Culture USA, Zillo, Sonic Seducer, Orkus, Negatief, Piranha, Legacy and many more. Also TV and radio stations such as MTV, Viva, Joiz, Swiss Television, Deutschlandfunk, RBB Radio Eins, Starradio Kassel, SRF Swiss Radio, Radio Energy, pay attention to the band, play their videos, songs and broadcast live gigs.
Musical autonomy and artistic entitlement was a priority from the beginning for THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA. This is one common thread running through the arrangements, the lyrics and their social criticism and political subtext. THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA see themselves as a modern rock band being close to the zeitgeist. However, the sound of the band deliberately evades musical stereotyping and skilfully oscillates between melancholic intimacy and a widescreen stadium sound, thereby merging influences from rock, wave, goth and electro. The dark and unmistakable voice of Michael Sele is the centre of this complex musical universe.
Live the powerfully hypnotic performances by THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA fascinate the audience. In their career the band have shared stages at stadiums (including Lanxess Arena Cologne 18,000, Westfalenhalle Dortmund 15,000 people), Open Air festivals and club shows, with among others: Smashing Pumpkins, Evanescence, Rammstein, Placebo, Hurts, Unheilig, ASP, Diary of Dreams, DAF, The Damned and many others. They have also played countless headline shows. With their unique performance THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA have graced top European festivals such as Greenfield (CH), Gampel Open Air (CH), Mera Luna (DE), also festivals in other countries: Whitby Gothic Weekend (UK), Entremuralhas (P ), Moonlight (IT), Castle Party Festival (PL), Wave Gotik Treffen (DE), Semana Gotica (ES), Summer Darkness (Netherlands), Shadowplay (BE), Dark Spring Festival (DE). The list continues.
By 2013 THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA had released four studio albums: DIARY OF A LOST (2007), A STRANGER TO TEARS (2008), AT THE END OF THE SEA (2010) and ISCARIOT BLUES (2012). Three CDs were released by the major label Universal Music Switzerland. Cult labels such as Danse Macabre and Metropolis Records launched their albums in Europe and the United States. ISCARIOT BLUES maintained top positions in the German Alternative Charts and, for the first time, in the official Swiss Media Control charts for several weeks as well as top positions in the iTunes sales charts. In 2013 the band released the acoustic CD THE MYRRH SESSIONS under their own label with partner NoCut/ SPV. This CD contains re-interpretations of existing songs and exclusive new tracks, uniquely arranged with diverse influences from indie, alternative rock, blues, goth, folk and Americana. At the release concert in the legendary jazz club Moods in Zurich the band played a sold-out show with Tonhalle Orchestra musicians.
The current THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA line-up: composer, songwriter, singer, guitarist and pianist Michael Sele, Mac Vinzens (drums), David Vetsch (bass) and Marco Gassner (guitar), with occasionally back up from classical guest musicians.
