So, I thought to myself that now it’s time to choose. I can pick myself up or I can give in to the blues. So, I swore in my heart that I was never gonna lose. I would crawl until I made it ‘cause I’ve got something to prove.
Worst Day Of My Life - Alec Benjamin
“I’m just going where the wind blows, I don’t get to decide.”
Publisher: Euphoria & House of Solo
Authors: Marie-Pauline Cesari & Noah Wade
Photographers: Louis Browne & Matty Vogel
Welcome! This zine is dedicated to the brilliant storytelling and profound sincerity of Alec Benjamin.
In a musical world often focused on spectacle, Benjamin chooses to be a genuine narrator. He crafts intricate, emotionally honest short stories, transforming personal experiences, from the confusion of growing up to struggles with mental health, into captivating indie-pop anthems. He doesn’t just sing songs; he shares parables that are both deeply vulnerable and universally relatable. His commitment to unvarnished feeling makes his music not just something you listen to, but something you truly connect with. This zine is our way of celebrating the thoughtful heart and lyrical craft of an artist who gives voice to our shared modern experiences.
While his music is often stripped down and raw, it still gives us these dynamic, fuller moments that make the honesty land even harder. He’s always evolving, but what stays the same is his commitment to putting everything on the table. That’s why his live shows are such a big deal—he thrives on that genuine connection with the crowd.
This zine is here to dive deeper into that feeling: how a simple, comfortable guy with an incredible knack for writing became the soundtrack to our messy, beautiful, and totally real lives. You can hear that raw, personal journey in tracks like “I Sent My Therapist to Therapy,” which he’s called a snapshot of his emotional state while working hard on himself. That’s what this zine is all about: connecting with the vulnerability and incredible craft of an artist who always keeps it real.
Alec Benjamin views his songs as a way to process real life, not just inventfiction. This approach led to one of his most talked-about recent tracks, which serves as a perfect example of his vulnerability.
“The song feels like a snapshot of where I’ve been emotionally—trying to make sense of things, doing the work, and maybe unintentionally overwhelming my therapist along the way.”
— Alec Benjamin, on writing “I Sent My Therapist to Therapy”
Narrated For You - 2018 These Two Windows - 2020 (Un) Commentary - 2022 12 Notes - 2024
Alec Benjamin is a Warner Music artist.
“Most of my inspiration comes from my own life—things I’ve experienced or stories from people close to me. I’ve always found it easier to write from a real place rather than try to invent something.”
Pick me if you need a guy within a hundred miles Who likes tea, is a Gemini, has family in Ohio Is free this Friday night and just might make you smile I know there’s other fish in the sea But pick me – Lyrics from Pick Me –
“12 Notes came from a really tough chapter in my life. I was going through a lot personally, and writing the album helped me stay grounded. Sonically, it’s different—more stripped-down in parts, but also more dynamic. There’s a blend of raw vulnerability and heavier, fuller moments. I hope people can hear the honesty in it and maybe find pieces of their own story reflected in the songs.”
This is really a collection of 12 journal entries, each representing a different chapter of my life. It’s like opening up my diary and sharing these deeply personal stories with my listeners. The inspiration behind the album comes from my own experiences, struggles, and moments of clarity.
I poured my heart into this album. Last year was a whirlwind with so much on my plate and things I was trying to figure out. I was facing a ton of changes that were looming, ones I knew I had to tackle but needed more time to be ready for. Now, though, I’ve taken that leap, made those changes, and the album is finally complete.
“King Size Bed,” “I Sent My Therapist To Therapy,” and “Pick Me” are all part of the album’s narrative, exploring themes of love, mental health, and
personal growth. They showcase different facets of my life and emotions. It addresses themes of self-doubt and seeking inner peace, which I think we all go through in some way. I’ve struggled with mental health, and sharing that with my fans, I think, helps them to connect with the song’s honesty and vulnerability. I hope that helps them to know that they aren’t alone in their mental health journey.
The journey has definitely helped in giving me a deep well of emotions and stories to draw from. Performing in various settings, from parking lots to sold-out shows, taught me the importance of connecting with the audience and staying true to myself.
Alec Benjamin first started out in music by teaching himself how to play guitar in his bedroom. Fast-forward several years and the “Let Me Down Slowly” singer boasts more than 5 billion global streams and several platinumcertified singles. But his path to success wasn’t always linear. In Uproxx’s latest How I Blew Up segment, Benjamin walks his fans through his triumphs and setbacks during his rise to fame.
Benjamin began making music in high school after a brief identity crisis led him to pick up a guitar. When Benjamin signed his first record deal in the early 2010s, he thought it was his big break. But it ended up being a turbulent time for
new artists, as music streaming services weren’t yet popular.
After being dropped from the label, Benjamin found his passion for his career ignited and he decided to start from the ground up. “It was a good gut check for how much I actually wanted to do music,” he told Uproxx.
Eventually, Benjamin signed a new record deal and his 2018 track “Let Me Down Slowly” acted as his breakout hit. But the singer says the moment he really knew he “made it” was when his friends started to text him and say they heard his music on TV or the radio. “That was tight,” he recalled.
Some have fought battles from desks in Seattle and some have waged war on the street; some fight with rifles and some with the Bible and some use a shield and a knife.
