Mya: After the debut album Headroom Of Conscience was released on Locomotive Music USA you released this album on small indie label Czar Of Cricket in Switzerland. In fact, your release was also the second release of the label. What is the story behind the switch of labels?
Emmi: The locomotive deal was an unlucky partnership between CARMA STAR and a label that didn’t really believe in the band... so nothing really happened with the first release... Czar Of Crickets is owned by Fredy Rotter who is a good friend of mine and the first guitarist of CARMA STAR (Coma Star by that time). It’s great to keep it in the family and be able to still have control over what’s happening with the band! We’re very proud to be his second release!

Mya: I would like to congratulate you with When My Soul Begins To Bend, an outstanding album. Can you tell us about the creation and recording of the album? What was different compared with your debut album that you released under your former name Coma Star?
Emmi: Thank you! It took quite a long time to record and write the album coz the difficult time in the US and the problems with management and label took away the fun of making music... With Jaro and Chris it definitely came back and so we had two recording sessions in 2006 and a mixing session in 2007 to finish the album. It was way less planned than the first album, since we recorded it in our hometown and not in LA like the debut. So we could take the time to experiment and leave space for things to happen spontaneously in the studio. There was way less pressure coz we wanted to record an album just for ourselves.

Mya: When listening to your music I cannot help but wonder why you are still a relative unknown band outside Switzerland. You have what is called "hit potential". So what are your plans regarding promotion and will you also tour in the rest of Europe?
Emmi: Well, the record is at the moment only available in Switzerland and on the internet. Today you either need a lot of support from a strong record label or you need a lot of patience and shows to get yourself known... we have endless patience... ;) ...and because the first record went down the drain and no one really heard about it, this new CD is kind of our debut... and these days it’s so hard to find shows or a booking agency as an unknown band as we are... so we do the booking on our own... what a shit job! :-/

Mya: Who is responsible for writing the music and lyrics?
Emmi: The first CD I wrote together with Fredy Rotter (Czar Of Crickets/Zatokrev) and there’s even one song (twothree) on the new record that he co-wrote. Then there are about 7 songs that I wrote and the rest happened with Jaro and Chris. And as the lead singer I write all the lyrics.

Mya: In the reviews of Headroom Of Conscience you have been described as "U2 on Jack Daniels" and "an intelligent Creed with finally some good songs". And you reminded me of the vocalists of Keane and Nickelback, especially your voice and singing technique. But still you have managed to create your own original sound. Which bands and artists inspire you?
Emmi: To be honest, for a long time I didn’t look at myself as a singer coz in front of all I’m a bass player and songwriter and I couldn’t find a singer that I liked or that had no attitude... in the end I did the singing. So I do my best and wouldn’t dare to compare myself to any of the „real“ singers! Hehe.... but I love Mike Patton of course and Maynard Keenan or Trent Reznor or early Police – Sting.

Mya: To which bands and music do you listen?
Emmi: It’s terrible but I’m a pretty ignorant music consumer... I rarely listen to music at all... dunno why... a defect that I have to stop I guess! So the bands that I like are not the newest ones.... I like the Deftones as a recording artist but not as a live-act. I admire Tool and Perfect Circle. I worship the Young Gods as the best band ever. And of course the old hardcore bands like Fugazi, Minor Threat, Henry Rollins and that whole section. And the coolest bass-guitar-drum-trio of all times is the Police. Incredible song writing!

Mya: The album is titled When My Soul Begins to Bend yet there isn't a song with the same title on it. What does the title mean?
Emmi: It’s the very last line of the last song „on time next time“. We liked the idea that the last thing you hear when you listen to the CD is the album title. In that song I’m singing about borders you have to cross to achieve things. Things that you didn’t know you were capable of. Hard to explain... I’m a control freak, so it’s pretty hard for me to let things go, but I know sometimes you need to do that! ...and then that’s where the soul sometimes begins to bend... in a positive or a negative way.

Mya: How are the responses from the album are so far with reviews?
Emmi: Well, the reviews so far are from good to mediocre... haven’t read a real bad one yet though. But I think you can’t really rely on reviews... people like our shows, they buy albums after the gigs. So that’s cool!

Mya: How is the scene like for metal and power rock in Switzerland?
Emmi: Tough!!!!!!!!! Switzerland has no great tradition in metal. There were some bands of course like Krokus, Coroner or Celtic Frost, but there’s no radios, not much clubs and no TV that would support music like we play! Still we are quite happy coz we still get to play live!

Mya: What element is different musically from the previous album to your current release?
Emmi: The spontaneity! And I think there’s more variety than on the last record. Plus I guess we’re a little harder than we used to be... mainly live.

Mya: Was there anything that you wanted to do differently after you heard the final product of recording with the new material? If so, what was it or where you happy overall?
Emmi: I think Chris is not so happy with his drum-sound... but that’s a matter of taste... I like it. I’m always happy with a finished record. To me it’s always like the end of a period and the beginning of a new one... so there’s no need to think back and try to make things different... „where my soul begins to bend“ had to turn out like that. And next album will be way better again.... of course!

Mya: As a band what is the one thing that makes you stand out, can be sound, presentation or etc? Something that would interest others to take notice to?
Emmi: We’re definitely not a trend-setting band, and we didn’t invent Rock’n’Roll. And we don’t care. We’re a very good live-act and the songs sound better than on the records we did. We all play in this band to play live, and records are just there for the possibility to play a concert... and for our own pleasure! But yes, we are a very good live-band I’m convinced!

Mya: Any named bands that you shared the stage with and if so, what was the experience like? If you have not, are there bands that you would like to play with?
Emmi: Hmmm... so far we only played smaller clubs, so no big support-shows... but that’s something that costs money nowadays... if you want to support a bigger band then mostly you have to pay for it... we’d rather save it for the next record... so no wishes to whom we’d pay money! If it was free then I’d like to support Metallica or the Young Gods!

Mya: In three words describe the band?
Emmi: Friendship, power, loud

Mya: Any interesting experiences when recording the new material that you care to share? Can be anything?
Emmi: Well no... Everything was very familiar and like I said the result turned out kinda better than we’d expected it. It was nice to record the album with Fred Herrmann, the first CARMA STAR drummer seven years ago. We kept it in the family too there!

Mya: Is there something about that band that we as readers do not know about, but you care to share with us?
Emmi: That we need support, need a booking agency, need gigs in Europe, need a record deal other than in Switzerland. Need fans need cash need love need vacations... ehm enough?

Mya: Favourite pastime when not doing music?
Emmi: Oh, you’re asking a musician for hobbies? There’s not many... snowboarding of course as we’re all Swiss. Chris and I always go see our local football-team. But besides that there’s music and music.

Mya: What would you like to say to our readers and fans?
Emmi: Give CARMA STAR a shot!