One of the most positive things to come out of the past year and a half has been the creativity that’s been sparked in artists, while having to stay home and slow down due to the pandemic. This could not be truer for beloved singer-songwriter Ben Rector.
While there is no doubt that he is grateful for all the opportunities that have come with his successful musical career including touring, TV appearances and the like, for Rector, the quarantine was the first time since he was 18 years old that he didn’t have anything else distracting him, giving him time to focus wholeheartedly on making music. He made the most of this unexpected gift of time by channeling his undivided attention and creativity into writing and recording his upcoming album, which is slated to be released in 2022.
The ever-imaginative Rector wanted an innovative way to share this new music with fans for the first time. Months of ideation, planning, and thinking outside the box resulted in a short film that Rector says took him out of his comfort zone.
On December 2nd, Rector held an intimate event for a select number of fans as a way to share his new album and accompanying short film. To make the event even more personal, Rector even surprised fans by finding his way out to the audience before the show, handing out candy to eagerly awaiting fans.
The listening event and film screening took place at the Franklin Theatre, a small, historic theater just south of Nashville. Fans got to hear the new album—which features several notable collaborations— in its entirety and had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session, where Rector discussed the inspiration and production process for both the album and film. Since this type of event was unlike anything Rector had ever done before, he had his reservations at first, sharing with fans during the Q&A that he wasn’t sure if it would sell. The talented singer-songwriter got quite the surprise when not only did the show sell out, it garnered such excitement that he ended upholding three different viewings to accommodate more fans.
With the undeniable energy of fans in the venue buzzing excitedly throughout the event, it is no surprise that Rector’s loyal fanbase will be anxiously anticipating the upcoming year so that they can experience his new masterpiece.