The Grammy Museum welcomed multi-platinum singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin to the Museum’s intimate 200-seat Clive Davis Theater as part of the Museum’s “The Drop” series in which artists participate in an intimate Q&A followed by a short performance. The event celebrated Benjamin’s recent album release, 12 Notes, and was moderated by Lyndsey Havens and touched on topics such as the creative process, mental health, and the future.
The Q&A began at 7:44 p.m. with Benjamin quickly excusing himself for being late as he needed to use the restroom beforehand. Benjamin continued with a story in which he once attended a similar event at the Museum that included a panel with Producers Rodney Jerkins, Greg Kurstin, and Evan Bogart, the panel inspired him to one day return as the special guest on stage. Havens directed the conversation to the celebration of the new album, 12 Notes. Benjamin shared a story where he revealed despite not liking parties, he held an album release party due to his mother’s wishes and was glad to share the experience with friends, family and fans.
When asked about his experience opening for John Mayer, Benjamin praised Mayer for creating an amazing environment, treating everyone equally and taking care of expenses for his openers. He also revealed that he took notes from Mayer’s set where he incorporated stories between songs, something Benjamin thought is important for storytellers like himself and has since attempted to do the same with his own performances. He also mentioned that he takes fan feedback seriously reading through Instagram DMs, TikTok comments, and indirect tweets to see what people think of his music. Benjamin discussed having hundreds of unreleased songs as he grew into the habit of writing songs weekly since he turned 18 years-old for an average of 120 songs a year.
Benjamin disclosed that his recent song “I Sent My Therapist To Therapy” is 100 percent true. “Last year was a really hard year for me,” said Benjamin. “I’m not fully ready to come out and tell the full story behind it, but like I hadn’t been completely honest with my therapist. And I saw a therapist and psychiatrist and uh I fucked them both up.” Benjamin also stated that he sometimes “feels weird” talking about mental health because he thinks it has become a “fad.” The only way he feels comfortable talking about the topic is by incorporating it into his music, showcasing his credibility through his own experiences and vulnerabilities. Benjamin also stated that a lot of artists talk about mental health but do not write about it.
The Q&A was followed by an intimate performance in which Benjamin performed six songs, one of which was an audience request. The show kicked off with “Older” followed by “I Sent My Therapist To Therapy” and “Water Fountain” performed on the keyboard. Benjamin took a quick minute to explain that he was drifting away from a curated setlist he had previously written on the back of a paper plate due to his vocals being overwhelmed from traveling. He continued his set with “Devil Doesn’t Bargain,” the audience request of “Boy in the Bubble” and closed off the show with his hit single “Let Me Down Slowly.”
Benjamin briefly mentioned already working on new material for a following album. Fans can expect to hear a few demos that Benjamin has never before performed on the road during his upcoming fall tour. Alec Benjamin heads out on his North American 12 Notes Tour this fall starting on September 6 in San Diego, CA through October 25 in Los Angeles, CA. For more information on Alec Benjamin or more tour dates visit here.
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