Alec Benjamin’s ‘Narrated for You’ is a Refreshing Change in Music Today
Artists such as Post Malone and Billie Eilish are a dime a dozen these days. The lo-fi, edgy pop/R&B scene is bursting at the seams in recent years, but one artist is shining through.
Alec Benjamin is a 24-year-old from Phoenix, Arizona who more recently has been shaking things up since starting school in Los Angeles about four years ago. He has been writing and releasing music for the last few years straight from his dorm room at USC.
Alec writes and records all of his own music and has stated that he likes to keep his songs simple with lo-fi, chill beats.
His most recent mixtape, ‘Narrated for You’, released on November 16, 2018 and beautifully showcases his style and talent for songwriting.
Benjamin’s unique voice paired with his simple beats and guitar strumming will leave you with his songs drilled into your brain.
Writing about everything from high school crushes, family, and even the bullying he faced, Benjamin’s songs are deeply personal yet relatable to many people. One could even say that his lyrics are a refreshing breakaway from the drugs, sex and partying that we hear about every time we turn on the radio.
The innocence of his lyrics throughout the mixtape tell a story of a young boy who has seen his share of struggles while growing up, but is pushing through to become his own person. His songwriting showcases an ability to tap into millennial nostalgia, mainly that of the notorious 90’s kids.
A Talented Songwriter in the Making
In the track Boy in the Bubble, Benjamin takes his own experience of being bullied, turns it around in the last verse and writes about the perspective of the bully. He shows a deep understanding of life and the struggles that everyone faces, even though we may not see them.
Benjamin lists Eminem as one of his biggest inspirations. Check out this great cover he did of Eminem’s Stan, with none other than Matisyahu.
‘Narrated for You’ often takes hard-lefts with the dark subject matter of one song and immediately transitioning to the next track that could be just innocent storytelling about doing his crush’s homework so that she will notice him. You will notice that his focus is mainly on his past, which at his young age can only mean high school.
Although we may not like to admit it, we are all attached to some aspects of our High School days and Alec Benjamin puts relatable scenarios eloquently into catchy pop tracks and clever lyrics, all while keeping an impeccable flow.
Other notable tracks include Let Me Down Slowly, Swim and 1994, the latter being the most widely known of Benjamin’s songs.
You can listen to ‘Narrated for You’ straight through without skipping any track, which is a telltale sign of a true masterpiece. If you don’t like all the songs, I’m willing to bet that at least half of them will have some repeat listens.
Review: 9/10
