Whether revered, feared, admired or persecuted, the owl is emblematic of good and evil while also being a symbol of wisdom – and the guardian and sorceress of the night. Singer-songwriter Michael Sele has chosen to use the name of this fascinating nocturnal creature for his new album and concert tour. We’d therefore be right to assume that this eagerly anticipated flight with the owl represents another key new milestone in the twelve-year-long career of the charismatic master, together with his band THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA.

With ten new songs and one instrumental track on what is his eighth studio album, “Flying with the Owl” (released 12 October 2018), Michael Sele once again demonstrates his international class as a composer, singer, arranger, and producer.

The music is reduced to the essentials yet is always intense and vibrant. With its tasteful melodic arrangement, it lifts the spirits while also celebrating the aesthetic of darkness in a way that skilfully avoids disturbing emotional overtones. The topics and lyrics of the songs poetically and gently illuminate every facet of the human condition: our hopes and fears, our contradictions and desires, and our passion and love.

Any attempts to pigeonhole THE BEAUTY OF GEMINA into a particular category are bound to fail, as Sele’s songwriting has evolved steadily over the years. With each new release, in fact, it is continuing to develop and, to some degree, reinvent itself. Boundaries are explored, as an experimental approach is taken to new sounds and instrumentation.


For the new release, Sele has gathered around him a number of internationally renowned guest musicians, some of whom have already played with the live band on the successful Silent Land tour in 2017. On cello the Nice-based Swiss musician Raphael Zweifel, whose recent gigs included accompanying German band Die Toten Hosen on their recent acoustic tour. We have well-known musician and Swiss folk fiddler Eva Wey on violin, while the low notes are the responsibility of Sele’s old friend Philipp Kueng – the bass virtuoso who joined him previously on the recordings of his Iscariot Blues and Ghost Prayers albums.
Mac Vinzens, Sele’s longtime musical companion and an exceptional percussionist, is the final member of the illustrious ensemble. His accented and energetic playing gives the songs the beat and rhythmic compactness they need.


As on previous albums, the recording took place in Sele’s own studio in the old cinema in Mels near St. Gallen. And just as before, the album has been mixed and produced by Michael Sele personally, while the mastering and final refinement of the sound were the responsibility of the distinguished mastering engineer Ryan Smith. Sound quality, clarity and dynamic range meet the very highest standards.


“Rarely have I worked with musicians who interact with one another so perfectly, behave so unpretentiously, and treat each other with such respect.” Michael Sele