Carella worked for a year as a dancer and backup singer on the Channel 9 talent show Starstruck. After recording a demo single, he became the first act signed by music and television identity Molly Meldrum to his Luxor record label, an imprint of Liberation Music. His debut single, "2 Beautiful", scored extensive airplay and remained on the ARIA chart for 22 weeks. The follow-up single, "Don't Say a Word", released in August 2003, peaked at No. 7. Emmanuel also Supported Christine Aguilera on her Australian Stripped Tour in Dec of 2003. He also released an album, Emmanuel, on 18 April 2005.