It's crazy to think of myself as a musician. It's ridiculous that I get to do it, and I don't necessarily mean music. Getting to do something you really enjoy as a job is an incredible privilege, I think. I still don't really feel like a musician outside of the actual music.

Ben Rector

Categorized in : Mean Jobs Crazy

Life is not the mountaintops, it's the walking in between. by Ben Rector

Life is not the mountaintops, it's the walking in between.

life-is walking

Most people who work with me can tell you I'm a bit of a pessimist about business stuff. Not because I don't believe in what I'm doing, I just don't like feeling presumptuous. Like, 'This is what's going to happen!' Honestly, I don't know what will happen.

feelings believe people

Recording can be enjoyable, but the hard thing is that you don't get any direct or immediate feedback like you do when you play live. Getting to see people's excitement and see them engage in the show makes me excited to get back out and play.

excitement play people

I have learned that you're not perfect, and that sometimes the one you love can burn you. But it's just the fool that's looking backwards: a bitter heart turns the love we made to ashes.

ashes perfect heart

I never knew that I could love someone the way that I love you. by Ben Rector

I never knew that I could love someone the way that I love you.

valentines-day love-you way

Other [artists'] music is really what you get most inspiration from, whether consciously or subconsciously. I like a lot of old music and a lot of soul music. I also really like a lot of new stuff.

artist inspiration soul

I would say that I'm happy getting to make a living playing music and seeing people enjoy music that I make. So far, things have grown consistently and quicker than I thought they would, so that could possibly continue. Even if it ended tomorrow, I'd be really grateful that I got to do it.

playing-music grateful people

Sometimes things fall in your lap and sometimes you really carve them out. I've found that songs I really like can happen both ways. I've also been trying to learn when to step away and take a break and when to keep pushing through. For me it's a delicate balance of staying inspired and staying consistent, and I'm still trying to figure it out.

balance song fall

I really value the freedom I have as a Christian that's an artist but not necessarily a Christian artist. I think it can be hard to express certain things about faith when there are a pretty specific set of expectations around what you need to talk about and how you're talking about it.

artist christian thinking

I definitely would love to transition into being more of a writer at some point in my career. I love playing shows and traveling, but I also love writing for other people, and that's something I'm investing my time in more when I'm home.

home writing people