With his musical chops and insatiable appetite as a composer, Micah Emrich stands out. The 26-year-old’s brand of alternative R&B comes packed with emotional punches thanks to honest lyricism and spot-on production with the help of Milwaukee producer beanboi. Emrich is celebrating the release of his debut album, PROMISES, with an Aug. 2 concert at Anodyne Coffee in Walker’s Point.
– Erin Wolf, Radio Milwaukee
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Tell us about the title of your lead single, “maybe hell is a better place?”
I grew up in church – my dad was a pastor, so when I [first] said [it], the way it rolled off the tongue and everything, I just felt it on a deeper level. … What if hell is better than the current situation that I was going through the other day, or whatever the struggle was? That’s kind of where that came from.
The song feels like it’s coming from a tough space. Do you write in the thick of intense feelings, or do you need time to process?
Honestly, I feel I thrive in those intense emotions and situations. Music has always been a way of just getting those emotions out. … I don’t shy away from trying to write just because I’m sad about something; I feel like I write my best stuff when that happens.
The full interview is available via the “State of Sound” podcast. Find it at radiomilwaukee.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
