Yes to all of the above. His recent exposure as an actor may obscure the fact that when it comes to music, New Jersey native Val Emmich is a lifer. He told Page Six, "The acting thing snuck up on me." Emmich's main focus has always been his music, as evidenced by his prolific output.
His latest album, LOOKING FOR A FEELING YOU NEVER KNEW YOU NEEDED, marks his seventh full-length solo effort in nearly a decade. People Magazine called him "the real deal." Entertainment Weekly labeled him a "breakout singer." The New York Times said he's "a rocker who rocks to his own beat."
Emmich (pronounced Em-ik) recorded LOOKING FOR A FEELING in Long Branch, NJ with the production team Near Records. The result is a kaleidoscope of sounds and textures including kinetic dance numbers ("Sidekick"), airy soundscapes ("Come Clean") and straight-up rockers ("Don't Wanna Go Home"). Lurking just beneath the surface are poignant stories of people trying to find their place in the world: there's the west coast transplant 3,000 miles from her family in "E.S.T.", the restless soul seeking a new beginning in "Change of Scenery" and the man returning to the place he once called home in "Gone." Emmich embodies all of them and somehow--despite some dark moments--supplies a beam of light that pulls the listener through to the slow decay of the album's final note.
If there's one thing that ties together the many facets of Emmich's art, it's passion. It's easy to write that word in a bio, but another thing to show it. At live shows, you'll find a man often unhinged, shirt soaked-through and guitar smashed to pieces; he's toured with artists ranging from Gavin DeGraw and Butch Walker to the Gym Class Heroes and Dashboard Confessional. And his life in front of the camera isn't limited to acting. He was the first unsigned artist featured on MTV's "TRL" and he's produced dozens of music and promo videos that show his lighter side while maintaining his acute attention to detail; check out the video for "The Only One Lonely" which won him an Independent Music Award. Oh, and he's also written a novel that he's currently pitching.
So who is this guy? He's hard to pin down, and while that isn't the quickest sell in our sound bite culture, it's probably that which will give Emmich longevity. He's been called a Renaissance man. When asked about the musician role originally meant for John Mayer, an "Ugly Betty" producer told the New York Times: "There was just this quiet storm to Val." That probably says it all right there.
No More
Val Emmich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Start over again
Just like a bicycle
You never really forgot
Just get on the seat
And move your feet
And gradually
Pick up speed
You're safe and sound
You hit a bump
Fall to the ground
I'm talking about love
I'm talking about life
That's the way I see it
I never really get it right
But after I fall I see it all
Just when and where
I dropped the ball
So next time around I'll hold on tight
But this time
It's another oversight
Lying on my back
I don't wanna get up
There's something peaceful about
Just giving up
No more ups and downs
It's just too much
No more hard goodbyes
No more love
And no more
Trying to be tough
No more
I'm not getting up
i'm not getting up
This time I'm really stuck
I'm not getting up
The lyrics of Val Emmich's song 'No More' talk about the endless cycle of life, especially when it comes to love, and how it can be similar to riding a bicycle. Just like how once you learn how to ride a bike, you never forget, life's ups and downs are just like that. You learn, you forget, and then you start over again, trying to achieve perfection. However, just as you think you might have got everything in place, life, much like a sudden bump in the road, throws a curveball, and everything comes crashing down. The lyrics seem to imply that even after repeated attempts, one might never truly get life or love 'right.'
But the beauty of falling down is that it forces you to see things from a different perspective. You get a chance to reflect, to analyze what went wrong, and why. And even though, it might be painful to admit your mistakes, it's an opportunity to learn and grow, knowing that next time around, you'll hold on tight, and try to do things differently. However, the song seems to end on a rather somber note, with the singer describing lying on their back, not wanting to get up, and just giving up on love altogether, tired of the constant highs and lows.
Line by Line Meaning
This endless cycle
The repeated pattern of life and relationships
Start over again
Beginning fresh, despite past failures
Just like a bicycle
Comparable to a trip on a bike
You never really forgot
The simplicity of the experience is always remembered
Just get on the seat
Engage in the activity
And move your feet
Make physical movements towards progression
And gradually
Slowly but surely
Pick up speed
Increase momentum
Then just when you think
Just when you feel confident
You're safe and sound
You feel secure and protected
You hit a bump
Unexpected obstacles arise
Fall to the ground
Experience failure or loss
I'm talking about love
Referring to romantic relationships
I'm talking about life
Referring to personal experience
That's the way I see it
This is his perspective
I never really get it right
Acknowledging his past mistakes
But after I fall I see it all
Recognizing errors after the fact
Just when and where
Specifically when and where mistakes were made
I dropped the ball
To have made an error or failed to perform
So next time around I'll hold on tight
To be more cautious next time
But this time
At present
It's another oversight
Another mistake
Lying on my back
In a vulnerable position
I don't wanna get up
Lacking the will to continue
There's something peaceful about
Finding solace in defeat
Just giving up
Surrendering to the situation
No more ups and downs
Avoiding emotional instability
It's just too much
Overwhelming feelings
No more hard goodbyes
Avoiding pain of parting
No more love
Refusing to engage in romantic relationships
And no more
Further refusing
Trying to be tough
Attempting to be strong despite adversity
No more
Completely done
I'm not getting up
Refusing to get back up from failure
This time I'm really stuck
Unable to move forward from the present failure
Contributed by Blake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.