EMERALD
Michael Vaucher
Alfons-Aebystrasse 41, CH-3186 Düdingen
SWITZERLAND
The band started on 1995 with the join of two bands: Dark Crystal where came the guitarrists Jvo Julmy and Michael Vaucher, and the singer Véronique Remy; and Oppress where came the bassplayer Roger Winkler and the drummer Stefan Neuhaus, thus it started a Melodic Heavy Metal band.
Then when they were creating songs, Remy goes, but Julmy take the vocals. Two months after Winkler goes too, and on 1997 Adriano Troiano entered to replace him. On november on the same year Emerald did the first show. On 1998 Thomas Vaucher joined in the keyboards.
Rebels of our time was the first album <1999>, then of the great reactions from the fans, on 2001 the guys released a second CD Calling the Knights, which appear the bassplayer Stephan Kaufmann.
This album surpasses the first, but they go on being melodics, Emerald sound is one.
Hello Michael, how is Emerald right now?
Hello Alex, we're really fine thank you. The new CD is getting fantastic reviews and reactions from all over the world which makes us very happy and proud. And if you had told me a few years ago that I will make interviews with people from countries like yours, I had never believed!!
Why happened the breakup of Dark Crystal and Oppress bands?
We were all very young and had different visions and ideas. In Dark Crystal, we couldn't work together anymore because of personal problems between different band members. The end of Dark Crystal was really not very nice and some people still don't talk together today. Both bands had the same problems.
What's the differences of the first shows and the actuals?
We're much better today on our instruments. We had to learn how to perform and how to play better. Unfortunatly, we can't play many shows here in Switzerland as there is no metal scene here at all. No metal clubs and pubs where you can play as an underground metal act. So we play just 3 or 4 shows a year. We hope that we can play some gigs abroad in the future.
How many changed Emerald since it was included the keyboard player?
We don't changed at all !!! We use keyboads not as a leading instrument like all these melodic symphony metal bands. We try to create more atmosphere in some parts of the songs by using keyboards. And we don't use them on every song. They should not steal the power from the songs or make them cheesy. I think that on "Calling The Knights", we succeeded with this idea.
Why Adriano Troiano left Emerald?
He quit because he didn't want to spend so much time for music anymore. He has also many other interests and therefore he didn't want to give all the free time for the band anymore. He quit just before we started the recordings but he helped us a lot in the studio as we're still very good friends.
Does Emerald have the new drummer already?
No, unfortunatly not. We're still looking for a drummer, but this is really very difficult here. As already said above, there are not many people in Switzerland that love underground metal. And of course there are also not many musicians that play that kind of music. But nevertheless we hope that we'll find someone soon.
Which of the two albums do you like most and why?
Of course "Calling The Knights". We had more experience to record this one. On our debut album, we had a terrible Hard Rock sound as the engineer and producer was completely incompetent. We were fools and had no idea about recordings. We recorded in a rehearsal room of another band which was at the same time a little studio. The whole recordings were a desaster, the people in this "studio" had no idea about heavy metal and recordings. This time, we worked with two very good engineers who created a great metal sound for us.
Why did you decide to include the cover Medieval Steel?
It is definitly one of my favourite bands of all time. I just love all their songs (there are unfortunatly not many), especially the ultimate metal hymn "Medieval Steel". In my opinion, MEDIEVAL STEEL were the absolut perfect Heavy Metal band. Music, Image, Logo etc. - all fit perfectly. They were the definition of US metal. All we wanted to do with our version is paying homage to one of the best heavy metal bands ever existed. Eternally hail to MEDIEVAL STEEL!!
How has been the support of Dragonight Agency?
Bart Gabriel, the man behind Dragonight Agency is a metalmaniac to the bone.
He lives for metal and everything he does comes from the heart and with passion. He makes promotion for underground bands like us and we're really happy that there are people like him who support us. All bands interested, check out immediately his fantastic website under
Who are another Heavy Metal bands from Switzerland?
The best bands from Switzerland unfortunatly all exist no more. Bands like Coroner, Messiah, Drifter, Ruckus, Apocalypse, Poltergeist, Magic or Critical Mass were just fantastic. But there are of course also some very good new undergrond bands here in Switzerland. I would recommend for example Pertness, Inishmore, Tanelorn, Sun'n'steel, Megora, Excelsis, Shakra, Charing Cross, Anitras Garden and Blackburn.
Please tell us some short mythical history from Switzerland?
Switzerland was found on August 1, 1291, so we have a little more than 700 years of history now. The most known event in our history is the story of Wilhelm Tell. This man was getting prisoned back then together with his son. To be free again, he had to shoot an arrow through an apple which was placed on the head of his son. He succeeded and was getting a leader for freedom.
What's your opinion about the bands which has three guitarrists as Iron Maiden?
I think it sounds fantastic if you use it the right way. Just listen to the old LEATHERWOLF lp's, they kill your ears with fantastic leads and powerful riffs. At the case of Iron Maiden, I think they could do even more with three guitar players. In my opinion, they don't use it at the maximum. I hope that they will do better on their next studio album and tour.
Thanx very much Michael, say to us some message for the readers of this interview...
We would like to thank you very much for the opportunity to present our band here. We really appreciate this support very much !! Thank's also to every reader who read this interview for the interest in our band. If you would like to know more about EMERALD or if you like to order our CD (US$ 13 incl. P&V), write to: msvaucher@freesurf.ch See you all on the battlefield where all the brave knights stand as one!!!!
