New Jersey singer-songwriter Carlotta Schmidt has released a heartfelt new music video for her song “Let Me Be Me,” taken from her latest album Overthinker. The video, which Schmidt directed, filmed, and edited herself, turns a personal story into a wider message about identity, acceptance, and community support.
What began as a deeply personal reflection on her journey as a bisexual woman has now grown into a song that connects with many people from different walks of life.
“When I first wrote ‘Let Me Be Me,’ it felt more like a quiet request than a statement,” Schmidt shares. “I had spent years hiding who I was because I was afraid of how people might react. At some point, I just couldn’t do that anymore. I didn’t want my life to be shaped by fear or other people’s opinions.”
She explains that the song is also tied to loneliness and self-discovery. “I wish I had seen more people like me in music, film, and everyday life when I was figuring myself out. Maybe I wouldn’t have felt so alone. Now when I perform it, I see people connecting with it in a real way. That means everything to me.”
The music video brings that message to life with the help of 67 people, including Schmidt’s band Carlotta Schmidt and the Bold, guitarist Jon Herington, and community organizations. People from across the United States and even Zambia filmed their own clips on their phones, which were later brought together into one shared visual story.
The final video feels simple but powerful, showing many different faces and voices united by one message: everyone deserves to be themselves.
The idea of the video was inspired by lyric-based visuals, similar in spirit to early music videos like Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” though Schmidt says the idea came naturally rather than from imitation.
“I wanted people to really read and feel the lyrics,” she says. “And I wanted to include as many people as possible so others could see themselves reflected in the song.”
“Let Me Be Me” was written quickly in spring 2024, during a moment of reflection on discrimination and misunderstanding around bisexual identity.
“I had been thinking about bi-erasure and biphobia for a long time,” Schmidt says. “When I finally wrote it, everything just came out fast. I was proud of it right away, which doesn’t happen often for me.”
She also notes that producing the track was a challenge because of its layered arrangement, which includes vocals, guitars, bass, drums, and cello. “I wanted it to sound full and emotional, but not messy. Finding that balance took time.”
Musically, the song sits between Americana and singer-songwriter styles, with influences that echo artists known for emotional honesty and social awareness, including Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Elton John, Indigo Girls, Janis Ian, Marvin Gaye, Queen, Olivia Rodrigo, and Taylor Swift.
The project was made possible with support from family, friends, and New Jersey community organizations such as The Center of Asbury Park, Garden State Equality, and JBJ Soul Kitchen.
With “Let Me Be Me,” Carlotta Schmidt delivers more than a song. She offers a message of honesty, visibility, and the importance of being seen exactly as you are.
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