# Alec Benjamin

Alec Shane Benjamin (born May 28, 1994) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, his 2018 breakthrough "Let Me Down Slowly" from his album Narrated for You 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. 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 termination of his partnership with Columbia Records, 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 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". "Let Me Down Slowly" was later re-released as a single with Alessia Cara. While promoting the mixtape, he started creating the "Can I Sing for You?" 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 Billboard's Top Album Sales chart. His second album, (Un)Commentary, followed on April 15, 2022.
In 2023, he opened for John Mayer for a portion of Mayer's North American tour. He also performed at the annual Minecraft Live, singing a parody of his song "Let Me Down Slowly" using words from the Minecraft game universe. Additionally, he began releasing tracks from his upcoming album, 12 Notes, which was released on May 10, 2024.
He occasionally records Mandarin versions of his songs, having been inspired by his dad who’s 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".

## 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 | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Details | US | AUS | BEL (FL) | NLD | SWI | UK |
| These Two Windows | Released: May 29, 2020 Label: Atlantic Format: CD, Digital download, streaming | 75 | 70 | 99 | 42 | 75 | 52 |
| (Un)Commentary | Released: April 15, 2022 Label: Elektra Format: CD, Digital download, streaming | — | — | — | 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 | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Details | US | US Heat. | BEL (FL) | CAN | DEN | FRA | NLD | NOR | SWE | Certifications |
| 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 :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | US | AUS | BEL (FL) | CAN | DEN | IRE | NLD | NOR | SWI | UK | Certifications | Album |
| "Paper Crown" | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "End of the Summer" | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "The Way to Nowhere" | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "I Built a Friend" | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Let Me Down Slowly" (solo or featuring Alessia Cara) | 2018 | 79 | 56 | 4 | 49 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 6 | 20 | 31 | RIAA: 4× 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" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Gold MC: Gold | Narrated for You |
| "If We Have Each Other" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Platinum BPI: Silver IFPI DEN: Gold MC: Platinum | Narrated for You |
| "Death of a Hero" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Narrated for You |
| "Outrunning Karma" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Gold | Narrated for You |
| "1994" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Narrated for You |
| "Must Have Been the Wind" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Gold MC: Gold | These Two Windows |
| "Jesus in LA" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Gold MC: Gold | These Two Windows |
| "Mind Is a Prison" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | RIAA: Gold | These Two Windows |
| "Demons" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | These Two Windows |
| "Oh My God" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | These Two Windows |
| "The Book of You & I" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | These Two Windows |
| "Six Feet Apart" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Match in the Rain" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | These Two Windows |
| "I Built a Friend (2020)" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "The Way You Felt" | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | (Un)Commentary |
| "Change My Clothes" (with Dream) | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | 70 | — | — | — | 67 | | Non-album single |
| "Older" | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | (Un)Commentary |
| "Shadow of Mine" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | (Un)Commentary |
| "Speakers" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | (Un)Commentary |
| "Devil Doesn't Bargain" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 30 | — | 95 | RIAA: Gold MC: Platinum | (Un)Commentary |
| "Different Kind of Beautiful" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | 12 Notes |
| "I Sent My Therapist to Therapy" | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | 12 Notes |
| "Pick Me" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | 12 Notes |
| "King Size Bed" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | 12 Notes |
| "Found You First" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | 12 Notes |
| "—" 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" (Jon Bellion featuring Alec Benjamin) | 2016 | The Human Condition |
| "Eyes Blue Like the Atlantic, Pt. 2" (Sista Prod featuring Powfu, Alec Benjamin, and Rxseboy) | 2020 | Non-album single |

### Other certified songs

List of other certified songs, with selected certifications :
| Title | Year | Certifications | Album |
| "Water Fountain" | 2018 | RIAA: Platinum BPI: Silver IFPI DEN: Gold MC: 2× Platinum | Narrated for You |
| "If I Killed Someone for You" | 2018 | RIAA: Gold | Narrated for You |