Background and career
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.
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 Billboard's 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.
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.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
