Alec Shane Benjamin (born May 28, 1994) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. His 2018 single "Let Me Down Slowly", from his debut mixtape Narrated for You, became his breakthrough and reached the top 40 in over 25 countries.
Life and career Alec Shane Benjamin was born on May 28, 1994, in Phoenix, Arizona, where he and his sister were raised. As a teenager, in the 2000s he moved to Los Angeles, California. He started writing songs at 13 and learning guitar in high school, and released his first extended play (EP) America in 2013.
Benjamin signed with Columbia Records and enrolled at the University of Southern California. However, Columbia Records ended their partnership weeks after he submitted his album. After the termination of his partnership with Columbia, he went on a self-funded tour in Europe, opening for Marina Kaye in France and Lea in Germany. He promoted his music by performing in parking lots outside concert venues and handing out business cards to passersby.
Benjamin's debut 12-song mixtape Narrated for You was released on November 16, 2018. It features the songs "If We Have Each Other”, "Water Fountain," "Annabelle's Homework," and "Let Me Down Slowly". On February 1, 2018, Merrick Hanna auditioned for America’s Got Talent, using Benjamin's song "I built a friend". This would help Benjamin gain traction and soon after he was signed on with Atlantic Records. "Let Me Down Slowly" was later re-released as a single with Alessia Cara. While promoting the mixtape, he started creating his "Can I Sing for You?" series of videos on YouTube, in which he performs acoustic versions of his songs for people in public.
Benjamin's debut studio album These Two Windows was released on May 29, 2020. It peaked at number 8 on Billboards Top Album Sales chart. His second album, (Un)Commentary, followed on April 15, 2022.
He occasionally records Mandarin versions of his songs, having been inspired by his father, who had incorporated Chinese culture into his work as a medical doctor through acupuncture and eastern medicine. He collaborated with popular Chinese actress Zhao Lusi on a Mandarin version of "Water Fountain".
As of November 2025, Benjamin's total of monthly listeners was estimated to average 12,992,615. Alec Benjamin’s net worth is estimated to be around $4 million.
Influences Benjamin has cited influences such as Eminem, John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Paul Simon, Joe Venneri and Chris Martin of Coldplay. He has also expressed admiration for Kendrick Lamar and classic singer-songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Carole King, and Jackson Browne.
Discography
Studio albums +List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions US AUS BEL(FL) NLD SWI UK Narrated for You Released: November 16, 2018 Label: Atlantic Format: Vinyl, Digital download, streaming 127 - 100 59 - 25 These Two Windows Released: May 29, 2020 Label: Atlantic Format: CD, Digital download, streaming 75 22 99 42 27 52 (Un)Commentary Released: April 15, 2022 Label: Elektra Format: CD, Digital download, streaming 59 — — 84 62 — 12 Notes Released: May 10, 2024 Label: Elektra Format: LP, Digital download, streaming — — — — — — "—" denotes an album that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Mixtapes +List of mixtapes, with selected details, chart positions and certifications Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications US USHeat. BEL(FL) CAN DEN FRA NLD NOR SWE Narrated for You Released: November 16, 2018 Label: Atlantic Format: Digital download, LP 127 3 121 62 10 130 59 5 20 RIAA: Platinum BPI: Gold IFPI DEN: Platinum IFPI NOR: Platinum MC: Platinum SNEP: Gold
Extended plays +Extended play, with selected details Title Details America Released: April 22, 2013 Label: White Rope Format: Digital download
Singles As lead artist +List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications TitleYear Peak chart positions Certifications Album US AUS BEL(FL) CAN DEN IRE NLD NOR SWI UK "Paper Crown" 2014 — — — — — — — — — — rowspan="4" "End of the Summer" 2016 — — — — — — — — — — "The Way to Nowhere" — — — — — — — — — — "I Built a Friend" 2017 — — — — — — — — — — "Let Me Down Slowly" 2018 79 25 4 55 7 17 22 6 20 31 RIAA: 5× Platinum ARIA: 2× Platinum BEA: 2× Platinum BPI: Platinum IFPI DEN: 2× Platinum IFPI NOR: 2× Platinum IFPI SWI: 2× Platinum MC: 4× Platinum NVPI: Platinum Narrated for You "Boy in the Bubble" — — — — — — — — — — RIAA: Gold MC: Gold "If We Have Each Other" — — — — — — — — — — RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Silver IFPI DEN: Gold MC: Platinum "Death of a Hero" — — — — — — — — — — "Outrunning Karma" — — — — — — — — — — RIAA: Gold "1994" — — — — — — — — — — "Must Have Been the Wind" 2019 — — — — — — — — — — RIAA: Gold MC: Gold These Two Windows "Jesus in LA" — — — — — — — — — — RIAA: Gold MC: Gold "Mind Is a Prison" — — — — — — — — — — RIAA: Gold "Demons" 2020 — — — — — — — — — — "Oh My God" — — — — — — — — — — "The Book of You & I" — — — — — — — — — — "Six Feet Apart" — — — — — — — — — — "Match in the Rain" — — — — — — — — — — These Two Windows "I Built a Friend (2020)" — — — — — — — — — — "The Way You Felt" 2021 — — — — — — — — — — (Un)Commentary "Change My Clothes" — — — — — 70 — — — 67 "Older" — — — — — — — — — — (Un)Commentary "Shadow of Mine" 2022 — — — — — — — — — — "Speakers" — — — — — — — — — — "Devil Doesn't Bargain" — — — — — — — 30 — 95 RIAA: Platinum MC: Platinum "Different Kind of Beautiful" 2023 — — — — — — — — — — 12 Notes "I Sent My Therapist to Therapy" — — — — — — — — — — "Pick Me" 2024 — — — — — — — — — — "King Size Bed" — — — — — — — — — — "Found You First" — — — — — — — — — — "The Knife in My Back" 2025 — — — — — — — — — — "Pretending" — — — — — — — — — — "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
As featured artist +List of singles as featured artist, with year, released and album name shown Title Year Album "New York Soul, Pt. II" 2016 The Human Condition "Eyes Blue Like the Atlantic, Pt. 2" 2020
Other certified songs +List of other certified songs, with selected certifications Title Year Certifications Album "Water Fountain" 2018 RIAA: 2× Platinum BPI: Silver IFPI DEN: Gold MC: 2× Platinum Narrated for You "If I Killed Someone for You" RIAA: Platinum
Notes
References
External links Official website https://m.imdb.com/name/nm7607090/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1_tt_6_nm_1_in_0_q_alec%2520benjamin