Alec Benjamin gave his very first concert in Hungary as part of his tour supporting his second studio album, „(Un)Commentary”, and he managed to sell out Akvárium Klub. The 28-year-old American singer might seem a bit shy at first glance, but there was no sign of this shyness during the show. Instead, you could see a guy who was born to be on stage and very much enjoyed the fact that so many people were singing his songs even on the other side of the world.
The venue was already filling up with fans during the day, and the concert posters that you could take home for free (nice move from the venue, by the way) found their new homes in minutes as said fans were waiting in long lines for their fave. The opening act was none other than Winona Oak, who managed to win over the crowd in seconds, and was showered with their love. After that, Alec took the stage for almost one and a half hours and completely amazed his fans with songs like „Devil Doesn’t Bargain”, „Let Me Down Slowly”, and „The Way You Felt”.
We caught up with the artist before his set on Tuesday, and he told us that there was a time when he thought he would never make music again, or that he wrote one of his songs about his record label because he felt like they weren’t giving him what he wanted. Of course, we taught him a little Hungarian, as well, and along with his message to his Hungarian fans, he signed a CD of his for the readers of MUSICDAILY, which you have a chance to win. Oh, and now we can tell you that during this time, Alec was only a curtain away from his fans waiting outside, as the interview took place at Volt Lokál – exclusive interview with Alec Benjamin from Akvárium Klub.
It’s so nice to see you, how are you today?
I’m good, I’m good. How are you?
I’m fine, I’m great.
Good. What’s on your shirt?
Oh, it’s Billie Eilish merch.
Oh, it’s a Billie shirt, it’s pretty cool.
Yeah, I bought it last month. I saw her in Paris, it was great.
Oh, nice. Are you French?
No, I’m Hungarian.
Alright.
So, I was looking at your tour dates and I have to say that your schedule right now looks kind of tiring. I’m wondering, how are you coping with touring and being away from your home for a long time?
I’m tired.
You’re tired?
Yeah.
I’m not coping very well, but I think the alternative is not touring, and so, I think that was worse.
I love being on the road, I think having the privilege of getting to play music for people every night is a blessing, so I can’t complain, but this is hard. It can get hard. I think I’m getting to that point in the tour where it’s like, everyone’s a little tired and we’re about to hit the home stretch, we’ll be good. As long as the show’s good, that’s all I’m worried about, so… But yeah, I’m tired.
You’re just about to step on stage. Do you have any pre-show rituals that you always do before every concert of yours?
Yeah. You wanna know it?
Yeah, sure.
He knows what I’m gonna say. I poop. That’s it.
Really? That’s it?
Yeah, that’s it. Oh, we also do a little handshake with the band before we go on. Yeah. And I like everybody to be together for at least one hour before the show so I know where everybody is, so I don’t have any, like, where is…?
Yeah, everyone is ready.
Yeah, I want everyone to be present.
Your new album „(Un)Commentary” came out a few months ago. First of all, congratulations on it.
Thanks!
I’m wondering, what is the most important thing that you learned during the creation process of this record?
Well, I think it’s hard for me to say yet what I learned because I think the album is still… The way I figure out and learn from the songs that I wrote is by going around and playing them live. I think it’ll be another six months of shows before I can really derive any serious lessons from the music that I wrote.
But one lesson that I learned, or something that I learned about myself is that even if I don’t have to, I still like to write songs.
Because I didn’t have to make that record, no one was asking me to make the album. I didn’t have anything to deliver, I had an album that I just put out, and I was compelled to write the music anyway, so that was good.
‘Cause for a minute I thought maybe I won’t even make music anymore.
Really?
Yeah. At the beginning of the pandemic, everyone quit their jobs and was kind of figuring out what they wanted to do. I was really worn out and also, like, just depressed and thought, hmm, maybe I’ll just sit around for a few months and figure something else out. And I didn’t, so.
We’re glad you didn’t.
Yeah, me too. Me too.
Your latest single is „Devil Doesn’t Bargain”. Can you tell me a bit about the background of the song, like what inspired it and what is the message that you’re trying to get across with it?
Well the true story is, ironically, I wrote it about my record label.
Really?
Yeah, because they weren’t giving me the things that I wanted. But then ultimately I got over it as you do, you know. ‘Cause it just is what it is.
I think one of the hard things about music is that you have to separate the emotional part of the music from the actual product that you’re making, you know, because ultimately it is a business.
That can be hard. So, I had a friend at the time, too, who kept going back to this guy and I kept telling her, like, you know, he’s not gonna change, no matter what you do, and if there’s any hope for change, the best thing you can do is leave them and let them learn their own lessons. And if they wanna be with you, they have to be with you on your terms. I kind of fused those two ideas together. That’s what the background of the song is. But it had completely different lyrics about my record company at first.
And then you changed them.
Yeah.
Maybe they were too harsh?
I felt like it wasn’t very relatable.
Which song of yours would you show to a person that doesn’t know you yet?
Well, right now that’s the single, so I’d choose that one.
Fair enough, okay. And if you had a time machine, and you could go back in time to when you were starting out, and give your younger self just one piece of advice, what would it be?
I probably… If I could…
That’s a hard one.
Yeah, I just also…
I don’t think I would say anything because I’m like, sure, my life could be better, but it could also be a lot worse.
You never know what the effect of something like that would be over an extended period of time, and maybe the advice would be wrong. So, I probably wouldn’t even do it. I’d stay where I’m at.
Alright, and where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself… Man, I don’t know. Where do I see myself in 10 years? It’s hard to say, but hopefully I’ll be married. Yeah, no kids yet.
No kids yet, just happily married.
Yeah, but maybe like… I don’t know, I’m not sure.
That’s okay.
But I think at that point in my life I’ll have found the right person.
Alright, and finally, is there a message that you would like to share with your Hungarian fans?
Yeah, I guess the message would be thank you guys for listening to my music. This is the first time I’ve played in Hungary and the show is sold out and that’s great. I didn’t even know I had people here who are listening to my music.
Oh, there’s a whole crowd out there.
Yeah, I’m excited about that and also, you know, I guess I would say, yeah, just thank you. That’s really the message that I have.
Okay, now that’s all we planned for you today, but before we go, we would like to teach you something so you can take away something from this interview, as well.
Okay, okay.
So, do you know any Hungarian words?
None.
Okay, so is it okay for you if we teach you how to say I love you in Hungarian?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, how do you say it?
Okay, so it goes like this: szeretlek.
Szeretlek.
Yeah! Yeah, that’s it.
Szeretlek.
Alright, Alec, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us, we really appreciate it.
Thank you so much, it’s nice to meet you. Thank you so much.
And can’t wait to see you on stage tonight.
Yeah, can’t wait to perform for you, I’m so happy that you’re here, I really appreciate it. Thanks, guys!
For more, follow Alec Benjamin on his official channels below:
„Azt hittem, soha többé nem csinálok zenét” – exkluzív interjú Alec Benjaminnal
Alec Benjamin gave his very first concert in Hungary as part of his tour supporting his second studio album, „(Un)Commentary”, and he managed to sell out Akvárium Klub. The 28-year-old American singer might seem a bit shy at first glance, but there was no sign of this shyness during the show. Instead, you could see a guy who was born to be on stage and very much enjoyed the fact that so many people were singing his songs even on the other side of the world.
The venue was already filling up with fans during the day, and the concert posters that you could take home for free (nice move from the venue, by the way) found their new homes in minutes as said fans were waiting in long lines for their fave. The opening act was none other than Winona Oak, who managed to win over the crowd in seconds, and was showered with their love. After that, Alec took the stage for almost one and a half hours and completely amazed his fans with songs like „Devil Doesn’t Bargain”, „Let Me Down Slowly”, and „The Way You Felt”.
We caught up with the artist before his set on Tuesday, and he told us that there was a time when he thought he would never make music again, or that he wrote one of his songs about his record label because he felt like they weren’t giving him what he wanted. Of course, we taught him a little Hungarian, as well, and along with his message to his Hungarian fans, he signed a CD of his for the readers of MUSICDAILY, which you have a chance to win. Oh, and now we can tell you that during this time, Alec was only a curtain away from his fans waiting outside, as the interview took place at Volt Lokál – exclusive interview with Alec Benjamin from Akvárium Klub.
It’s so nice to see you, how are you today?
I’m good, I’m good. How are you?
I’m fine, I’m great.
Good. What’s on your shirt?
Oh, it’s Billie Eilish merch.
Oh, it’s a Billie shirt, it’s pretty cool.
Yeah, I bought it last month. I saw her in Paris, it was great.
Oh, nice. Are you French?
No, I’m Hungarian.
Alright.
So, I was looking at your tour dates and I have to say that your schedule right now looks kind of tiring. I’m wondering, how are you coping with touring and being away from your home for a long time?
I’m tired.
You’re tired?
Yeah.
I love being on the road, I think having the privilege of getting to play music for people every night is a blessing, so I can’t complain, but this is hard. It can get hard. I think I’m getting to that point in the tour where it’s like, everyone’s a little tired and we’re about to hit the home stretch, we’ll be good. As long as the show’s good, that’s all I’m worried about, so… But yeah, I’m tired.
You’re just about to step on stage. Do you have any pre-show rituals that you always do before every concert of yours?
Yeah. You wanna know it?
Yeah, sure.
He knows what I’m gonna say. I poop. That’s it.
Really? That’s it?
Yeah, that’s it. Oh, we also do a little handshake with the band before we go on. Yeah. And I like everybody to be together for at least one hour before the show so I know where everybody is, so I don’t have any, like, where is…?
Yeah, everyone is ready.
Yeah, I want everyone to be present.
Your new album „(Un)Commentary” came out a few months ago. First of all, congratulations on it.
Thanks!
I’m wondering, what is the most important thing that you learned during the creation process of this record?
Well, I think it’s hard for me to say yet what I learned because I think the album is still… The way I figure out and learn from the songs that I wrote is by going around and playing them live. I think it’ll be another six months of shows before I can really derive any serious lessons from the music that I wrote.
Because I didn’t have to make that record, no one was asking me to make the album. I didn’t have anything to deliver, I had an album that I just put out, and I was compelled to write the music anyway, so that was good.
Really?
Yeah. At the beginning of the pandemic, everyone quit their jobs and was kind of figuring out what they wanted to do. I was really worn out and also, like, just depressed and thought, hmm, maybe I’ll just sit around for a few months and figure something else out. And I didn’t, so.
We’re glad you didn’t.
Yeah, me too. Me too.
Your latest single is „Devil Doesn’t Bargain”. Can you tell me a bit about the background of the song, like what inspired it and what is the message that you’re trying to get across with it?
Well the true story is, ironically, I wrote it about my record label.
Really?
Yeah, because they weren’t giving me the things that I wanted. But then ultimately I got over it as you do, you know. ‘Cause it just is what it is.
That can be hard. So, I had a friend at the time, too, who kept going back to this guy and I kept telling her, like, you know, he’s not gonna change, no matter what you do, and if there’s any hope for change, the best thing you can do is leave them and let them learn their own lessons. And if they wanna be with you, they have to be with you on your terms. I kind of fused those two ideas together. That’s what the background of the song is. But it had completely different lyrics about my record company at first.
And then you changed them.
Yeah.
Maybe they were too harsh?
I felt like it wasn’t very relatable.
Which song of yours would you show to a person that doesn’t know you yet?
Well, right now that’s the single, so I’d choose that one.
Fair enough, okay. And if you had a time machine, and you could go back in time to when you were starting out, and give your younger self just one piece of advice, what would it be?
I probably… If I could…
That’s a hard one.
Yeah, I just also…
You never know what the effect of something like that would be over an extended period of time, and maybe the advice would be wrong. So, I probably wouldn’t even do it. I’d stay where I’m at.
Alright, and where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself… Man, I don’t know. Where do I see myself in 10 years? It’s hard to say, but hopefully I’ll be married. Yeah, no kids yet.
No kids yet, just happily married.
Yeah, but maybe like… I don’t know, I’m not sure.
That’s okay.
Alright, and finally, is there a message that you would like to share with your Hungarian fans?
Oh, there’s a whole crowd out there.
Yeah, I’m excited about that and also, you know, I guess I would say, yeah, just thank you. That’s really the message that I have.
Okay, now that’s all we planned for you today, but before we go, we would like to teach you something so you can take away something from this interview, as well.
Okay, okay.
So, do you know any Hungarian words?
None.
Okay, so is it okay for you if we teach you how to say I love you in Hungarian?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, how do you say it?
Okay, so it goes like this: szeretlek.
Szeretlek.
Yeah! Yeah, that’s it.
Szeretlek.
Alright, Alec, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us, we really appreciate it.
Thank you so much, it’s nice to meet you. Thank you so much.
And can’t wait to see you on stage tonight.
Yeah, can’t wait to perform for you, I’m so happy that you’re here, I really appreciate it. Thanks, guys!
For more, follow Alec Benjamin on his official channels below: