Singer-songwriter Ben Rector encouraged DM participants during Block 1. In 2017, Spotify listeners from 61 countries consumed 3 million hours of Rector’s music. Here are five things you should know about the voice behind “Brand New” and “Something Like This.”
1. He flew six fans to Six Flags to star in his “Brand New” music video. The song hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 2016. Those fans have hopefully gained their voices back since.
2. He’s a Nashville native, but has come through Chicago a few times. He visited House of Blues twice, in 2013 and 2015 (check out his setlists) and even hit Evanston’s SPACE in 2011.
3. He can throw a Frisbee disc like nobody’s business. He hurled a “post-soundcheck” zinger across an entire stadium in Cincinnati.
4. He released his first album as a freshman at the University of Arkansas. He met his future wife, Hillary Swanton Rector, that same year. @ Current frosh: take notes!
5. He often tweets back to fan questions while on a plane. Via #benonaplane, he’s professed his love for Jimmy John’s, Thin Mints and “Yesterday” by the Beatles.