Annie Benjamin is saving the world one song at a time. The Lake Highlands resident uses her singing and songwriting to promote social activism and encourage others to make the world a better place.
“I put things in my songs to make people think about how they treat each other,” she says. “I think it works because music speaks to us on a different level.”
A lot of her songs have just a general theme of being nice to others, while some discuss more serious issues. One she often sings is a parody of “Puff, the Magic Dragon” called “Poof, the Ozone Layer,” written by a friend.
“I think if you can approach a sensitive issue in a funny way, people respond better,” she says. “It doesn’t make them angry; it makes them laugh.”
Besides having a message, Benjamin’s music has a unique sound that falls somewhere between country and pop. She compares the style to such ’60s-era acts as Buffalo Springfield and The Birds.
“I think I’m closer to those than anything else,” she says. “My music is a mix of so many different things.”
Benjamin’s second album, “Some Kind of Wonder,” was released recently, and she’ll be performing those tunes at Highlands Café Aug. 25.
For more information, visit anniebenjamin.com.
