Carlotta Schmidt Shares Powerful New Music Video for ‘Let Me Be Me’ from Acclaimed Album ‘Overthinker’

Danielle Holian
13 hours ago
3 min read

Singer-songwriter Carlotta Schmidt unveils an uplifting, community-driven visual celebrating authenticity, self-acceptance, and LGBTQ+ visibility

New Jersey-based singer-songwriter Carlotta Schmidt has released the official music video for "Let Me Be Me," a standout singer-songwriter, Americana track from her latest album, Overthinker. Directed, produced, and edited by Schmidt herself, the video transforms a deeply personal song into a collective statement of identity, belonging, and resilience.

Originally written as a personal reflection on her journey as a bisexual woman, "Let Me Be Me" has evolved into an anthem embraced by audiences across the country.

"When I initially wrote 'Let Me Be Me,' I thought of it more as a plea than as an anthem," says Schmidt. "After years of being in the closet out of fear of personal and career repercussions, I just couldn't hide anymore. I just couldn't let the opinions of others dictate my life anymore."

She continues, "This is the song I needed when I was realizing I was bisexual. I felt really alone and maybe I could've avoided that feeling if I had seen myself in media, culture, and everyday life. When I started playing 'Let Me Be Me' out at gigs, it started to become an anthem. Not only did I start to feel less afraid, but I also started to feel less alone. The audiences I play it for keep showing me their full support of both me as an artist and me as a queer person. The song resonates with audiences. They connect to it. And that is so important and meaningful to me."

The innovative video features 67 participants, including Schmidt, members of her band Carlotta Schmidt and the Bold, legendary guitarist Jon Herington (Steely Dan, Madeleine Peyroux, Boz Scaggs), and volunteers, staff, and clients connected to New Jersey nonprofit organizations supporting LGBTQ+ advocacy and community care. Participants contributed from across the United States and as far away as Zambia, each filming their own segment using a mobile phone before Schmidt assembled the footage into a unified visual statement.

The result is a moving celebration of individuality and shared humanity, reinforcing the song's message that everyone deserves the freedom to be themselves.

While the lyric-focused visual style has historical roots in Bob Dylan's iconic 1965 video for "Subterranean Homesick Blues," Schmidt arrived at the concept independently.

"I wanted listeners to really focus on the words and their meaning," Schmidt explains. "In featuring so many people from across the United States and around the world, I wanted to give all people an opportunity to see themselves in the video and behind the lyrics of the song."

The song itself emerged quickly and organically during the spring of 2024. "When I wrote 'Let Me Be Me,' I had been thinking about the rampant bi-erasure and biphobia in our culture for a while, but just hadn't been able to put pen to paper yet. I was finally able to in May 2024. I wrote the song really quickly, which is rare for me, and was instantly proud of it, which is also really rare."

She adds, "The biggest challenge in producing and mixing the song was figuring out how to fit in all of the parts. There's a total of nine different parts—lead vocals, backing vocals, counter melody vocals, two acoustic guitars, electric guitar, bass, drums and cello. I wanted the song to sound rich, but not chaotic and it took some time to find that balance."

Musically, "Let Me Be Me" sits at the intersection of singer-songwriter and Americana traditions while addressing contemporary issues of identity and representation. Its spirit recalls socially conscious and emotionally resonant works by artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Elton John, Indigo Girls, Janis Ian, Marvin Gaye, Queen, Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and the collaborative humanitarian legacy of "We Are The World."

The video would not have been possible without the support of Schmidt's family, friends, and three New Jersey organizations committed to inclusion and community care: The Center of Asbury Park, Garden State Equality, and JBJ Soul Kitchen.