Greetings from Bovec, Slovenia! I’m currently sitting and typing from a desk chair placed in the bathroom where the wireless connection is strongest. In an hour I will be hurled several feet into the air via a wire and then sent crashing into a truck. Pay special attention to the question regarding flying. The timing is uncanny.

Anonymous asked: Do you play any other instruments besides guitar? (not that your guitar work is unsatisfying, of course)

VE: Yes! Your question leads me to some assumptions: that you possibly don’t own any physical copies of my albums or you’ve never read through the CD liner notes and you’ve probably never seen me live. Unfortunate, but never fear; I don’t hold it against you. Over the course of all my albums, I’ve played almost every instrument at least once. For live shows I typically stick with guitar for logistical reasons but I’ve been known to sit at the piano too when I’m in the mood. Thanks for the q. And check out the documentary “It’s Only Your Life” to see some piano action: http://www.valemmich.com/videos/ioyl

Anonymous asked: Hiya Val! In your last Q & A you mentioned you have been lacking in the Q department a bit recently so I thought I’d finally ask you something I’ve been wondering for a while. In a few of your songs you mention flying or being a pilot or astronaut, e.g., Gone - “Little budding astronauts”, Resume – “Landing is the hardest part of flying”, Got A Habit Now – “But I’m flying now…yeah I’m flying now”, I Spend My Whole Life Waiting – “I once had plans to be a pilot.” Every time I hear these songs I wonder if you ever had aspirations of being a pilot. When you were a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Or was music what you’ve wanted to do all your life?

VE: I love these types of questions, thank you. Very astute observation. To be perfectly honest, I’ve never noticed the prevalence of aeronautic language in my lyrics until you mentioned it. Now that I’ve pondered it for a moment here, I guess I’ve subconsciously attached symbolism to the idea of taking off and landing. I’ve equated flying to some sort of childlike confidence and exuberance and the landing part as a faculty learned later in adulthood. Taking off is brashness, landing is responsibility. Taking off is impulsive, landing is cerebral. Taking off requires no skill, whereas landing requires know-how. I make no claims whatsoever as to the real-life accuracy of these statements. They are only my subjective feelings about the words and actions. I’ve been combing through my collection of unreleased songs recently and found a song called “Crash Landing” which attempts to link flying to love and romance. Strangest part is that I have a fear of flying so maybe I’m trying to work that out somehow (conquer it) in song. So you’ve certainly struck something here. I must admit it’s a bittersweet discovery for me. In the past, the use of the metaphor has been largely organic but now I fear I will think twice before using an aeronautic image again. But I thank you for addressing it. I should tip-toe henceforth.

acousticfiend asked: Hey Val I know awhile ago there was a version of Absolutely Still on your myspace, or maybe it was the Val Emmich Street Team myspace, I can’t remember which, but either way it was a piano version of the song that I found absolutely amazing and I was wondering if there was any way you would post it again, or if it’ll be on your summer release?

VE: There exists no piano version of “Absolutely Still” save for the one that appears on Sunlight Searchparty. The first bit of that recording is all piano and noise. The version of the song that appeared on my Myspace page a while back was a full out rock version. And yes, I do plan on releasing that :)

Anonymous asked: Not so much asking something as I am commenting… I just had that amazing “slammed up against a wall” feeling when I heard “Resume.” The music, the style, the approach, the LYRICS…. all of them stirred together and combined really hit me… hard. Same feeling I get from “I Don’t Get The Joke.” I dare not ask you to divulge the inspiration behind these two songs, for fear that they won’t be the same as my interpretation (or the link that I make between the two). So, instead, I’ll just continue on in my state of bliss and say “I get it. I understand.” —- Eternally Grateful

VE: Good, because I wouldn’t have told you what they meant anyway. I will only say thanks and admit that I too have an abnormally strong connection to “I Don’t Get The Joke.” It sometimes makes me cry. Should it sound strange to anyone that I would have such a reaction to my own song, I would say “only certain ones” and I’d also add that I probably only listen to old songs maybe once a year, if that. So, when I hear them, they sound foreign to me and sometimes they inspire a potent reaction, good or bad.

Anonymous asked: What’s the story behind your monkey friend? I love the little guy. :)

VE: I found him in a big antique/junk shop. My friend Matt Schuman and I were shopping for animals that could be the stars of our video for “The Only One Lonely.” He’s been a buddy ever since. For extra credit, go listen to the song “Monkey” by Counting Crows. And you can watch the “Lonely” video on YouTube if anyone hasn’t seen it.

usedtoshine asked: hey Val, yesterday was the first time I saw you live. The show was AWESOME and I loved chatting with you afterwards. I talked to you about The Fifteen Minute Relationship CD that I wanted to get for my brother and you asked me to contact you. So here I am contacting you (via Tumblr because the only email I had was the one for the contest) I also wanted to get a copy of the original Slow Down Kid if that’s possible. I’m psyched about Fighting Fish and I hope I can go see it on June 22nd. Thanks a lot for being so nice and sweet to me and all the other fans that reached out to you. I really appreciate it! I love your lyrics, your singing and your acting and it sucks that you are so underrated. Have a good day/night/week/year/life and keep up the great work. Bye. (this is Stephanie, by the way)

VE: Hey Stephanie. Thanks for coming to the show and for following up with me here. Can you make it to the show in Hoboken, NJ on June 1st? If so, I can bring the CDs then. Or else, email me at ve.newsletter@gmail.com and we can make other arrangements.

Anonymous asked: What is your favorite color? It is a simple question. My aunt asked me why did she have to have a favorite color? I told her it was just a question. She said there is no need to have a favorite. Do you have a favorite color? A favorite anything? - Abigail V.

VE: I agree with your aunt when it comes to colors. My favorite color changes over time but I must say I’m partial to blues. As far as other favorites, I have many. When it comes to ice cream, anything coconut based.

Anonymous asked: Will the podcast ever make a return?

VE: I didn’t think anyone was listening. Plus, I had to buy a new phone and I lost my old way of recording the podcast. I have to figure out a new method. What topic would you like to hear on a future podcast? If enough people want to hear more, I’ll make some more. (Not that you aren’t enough dear Anonymous, but there’s a bit of work involved.) And by the way, thanks for listening.