Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Miriam Benjamin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Miriam, thanks for joining us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

I am very blessed. There are so many kind things that people have done for me but one act of kindness sticks with me the most. I was 19 years old, working full time at Chick fil A and part time as a babysitter. I was financially supporting my family along with my older sister and my sweet dog was sick and dying and had appointments twice a week at the vets office so bills were tight to say the least. This was also they year my dad left.
One night when I was babysitting, my phone stopped working and I panicked…I knew why. I didn’t have enough money to pay the bill that month and knew that might happen but had hoped and prayed that the parents would get home before my service was cut off! Well the parents got home and asked why they couldn’t reach me the second half of the night and I told them the truth and explained after my next chick fil A paycheck it would be back on and I apologized over and over. But when I finally stopped frantically stammering, I realized they were quite calm. And what they did next brought me to tears-they offered to pay for my phone bill every month. Every month. They didn’t even hesitate. They said “we would love to do this for you”. I was so ready to be fired and so ready for rage and frustration, but they were so kind. They payed for my phone bill for the rest of the time that I babysat for them. I don’t think they know just how much that meant to me and how much I needed their family in my life at that time in my life. And I will always be grateful and never forget it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

tell our readers about yourself, how you got into music

I have been into music for as long as I can remember. I grew up on old hymns, classical music and some broadways.
When I was younger, everything in my life was controlled including music so when I finally left the life I had known for so long, I truly got to start experimenting and discovering more about myself and my art. I always say that music saved my life and it truly has. It was the form of art that freed me and kept me going when I wanted to end it all. There is a song by owl city called “Beautiful Times” and that song saved me. I have been writing songs since I was little and worked a recording studio in Houston, TX a couple years ago but kept feeling like there was more for me in music than what I was doing and more that I wanted! I took a leap of faith and decided to move to Nashville! It was a big deal for so many reasons but a big reason was because for the first time in my life, I was doing something crazy and big but for my self!
I work at trader joes to support my dream financially and am now an artist for Songfinch as well where I get to write songs for special moments in people’s lives and I love it. Since moving to Nashville I have release three songs so far and have been hard at work on many many more that I can’t wait to share!
I don’t know if id say that I solve problems but my hope is that my music gives life and creates an experience for people and a connection. I think what sets me apart from others is my story. I have been through some terrible things and I am still here and I want to share my music and some of my experience with others. I don’t care to be famous, really but I do want to impact people and I know that I don’t need fame to do that.
I am most proud of how far I’ve come. I’m proud of never giving up. And the project I am most proud of is definitely the music video that I made with my some amazing friends called “save me”. “Save me” was written as a way of showing the internal struggle that one faces with themselves when they are contemplating suicide. I have attempted suicide like many others and am so thankful to still be here. That project was dedicated to a very special human and had so much heart behind it. I wrote directed and produced it and wrote the song for it after we wrote the story-that ws pretty cool. If that video and song makes anyone feel seen or hear, it was worth it. It was worth it.
The main things I want potential followers/fans to know about me is that I have so much to share and want to share it with them. That I am a human on a journey of love and experience and creation and I would love them to be a part of a lot of that! I hear new music literally every day and have so many forms of art that I have yet to showcase and share. Soon we will all get to experience that together. And the last thing is, Love and kindness. I value these the most.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think something most people don’t know is maybe just how much we are flying by the seats of our pants every second! Every win that is earned and achieved has so many “no’s” and “failed attempts” behind it-and in front! The fear of failure is real in many things in life, but in the arts it must become your best friend. Every opportunity helps. And most of the time we are risking a lot for EACH one! Most opportunities are to get to the next one and the next one and the next one. That’s why so many of us still want to get signed. WE do want that consistency. I hear a lot of people refer to “an artist’s lifestyle” and many times assuming that our lives are unpredictable because we want it to be. The thing is, we have to take chances, ride the current and do some seemingly crazy things, but that’s because we want it so bad. We are fighting for that consistency. I want making music and art to someday be what supports me financially and I am going to make that happen! But the road there is not easy and is unique to everyone. There is no promise that what worked for one person will work for you. Also, sharing a song you love of a local artist on social media means SO much. I share other artists all the time because I think it is so important to support each other and I know so many wonderful and talented people! But I also know from behind the scenes just how much every single share means. I am so thankful to anyone who listens to my music and shares it.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. Love, freedom and expression! Music is just one way that I feel like I am able to embody these things and it is in every part of my process. When I sit down to write, it is similar to how I sit down to paint, or cry, or stretch or meditate. I release, I accept and I experience whatever it is within me that is ready to manifest itself outside of me. I never want to get to the place where I think my best work is behind me and that I have nothing left to experience and create. I will always have more no matter what it looks like, each step is beautiful and special to me. A financial goal is to someday live in Hawaii. I think of it everyday. I love to surf and I love the culture there and I want to be a part of it. And I want to be able to travel to family whenever I want and not be held back by money. Someday I will.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miriam_musiccc/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miriam-benjamin-51b33049/
• Other: Tiktok is @miriambenj

Image Credits
All photos are by Tony Liam