Fifteen years into a career that began humbly, writing songs in college and touring the southeast in his Honda Accord, Ben Rector found himself in a place where many artists did at the start of a global pandemic: reassessing his reasoning for a career in music in the first place. The internal prodding organically led to a seat back at the piano in his home studio, where Rector processed his findings with the ornate-but-relatable lyricism fans have come to know and love. The end result is his forthcoming album The Joy of Music, due out March 11. Over the course of 12 tracks, the Oklahoma-born singer-songwriter reaffirms his penchant for evocative, piano-pop anthems that touch on family, fame and friendship. Musically, it’s also full of collaborative surprises, showcasing a breathtaking evolution in sound and spirit - leading to what Rector considers his best work to-date.

The Joy of Music is “a good microcosm of what the last couple of years of my life have been, which is trying to find joy and peace where I’m at, and finding it,” Ben says. “I’m in a deep place of gratitude for where I’m at.”

Indeed, his career has taken him from the challenging beginnings of every up-and–comer, to one of the most successful independent artists to-date - a gate-keeper, of sorts, and the creator of a highly effective career blueprint that continually leads to win after win. He’s amassed over a billion streams across all platforms; played live on a number of national television shows, including Jimmy Kimmel, Conan, The Today Show, and more; had his music featured in over a hundred TV shows, ads, and films including Pretty Little Liars and Castle (his single “Brand New” is one of the most licensed songs for television and film in the last five years); hit the number one spot on Billboard’s US Folk chart and the number nine spot on their top 200; was an all-star mentor on ABC hit show American Idol alongside Ryan Tedder, Jewel, Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, and Joss Stone (among others); sold out three consecutive nights at the legendary Ryman Auditorium as well as countless other theaters and arenas around the country... and that’s just the start.

Fans of Ben’s musical stylings and persona will be pleased to find the new project marked by introspection, and this time, the results are more profound than ever.

“I was so excited to wake up every morning and feel like a kid again, making music,” he explains of the recording process. “I wanted to make mistakes and take chances, and I was just so stoked to chase whatever sounded fun to me. It wasn’t from any sense of obligation, but just a fun wave to ride.

“It’s the best that it has been in a long time,” he croons on the album’s centerpiece, “Living My Best Life.” Those same words apply to The Joy of Music, too.