Val Emmich

Val Emmich, a rock singer and songwriter, grew up in Manalapan, New Jersey. At fifteen, following a Lyme Disease diagnosis that limited his physical pursuits, he picked up the guitar. Before long, original compositions began to flow from him. He pursued higher education at Rutgers University. Upon completion of his studies, he dedicated himself entirely to music. In the summer of 2001, his debut EP titled The 15-Minute Relationship came out independently. For his initial album, he collaborated with producer Wayne Dorell, whose previous credits include work with Tonic, Yo La Tengo, and Pavement. Joining him in the studio were guitarist Anthony Bianco and drummer Eric Micali. The resulting Slow Down Kid appeared on Childlike Records during March 2003. Emmich then secured promotional support and produced a music video for the song "Privacy Attracts a Crowd," which received rotation on MTV2. This exposure led to him being the first unsigned musician featured on MTV's Total Request Live. He subsequently inked a deal with Red Ink, benefiting from distribution via Sony Music's Epic Records imprint. Returning to the recording studio, he refined Slow Down Kid by retaining six tracks—with additional overdubs applied to several—while incorporating four fresh songs. Tom Lord-Alge handled a fresh mix for the Red Ink edition, which surfaced in October 2004.