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It’s no secret that the Nashville music scene has produced countless successful musicians.

One such success story is that of Ben Rector, a Nashville-born and -bred performer. His piano-driven pop/rock has drawn comparisons to Jon McLaughlin, Gavin DeGraw and Matt Wertz, to name only a few.

Although Rector is unsigned, he has managed to release a holiday EP and three full-length albums. His latest release, “Into the Morning,” hit iTunes and online stores on Feb. 16.

The album opens with “The Beat,” a great driving song with an infectious sound. The lyrics are about an unacceptable broken heart and the musical beat that brings it all full circle.

The slower “When a Heart Breaks” follows with a truthful take on breakups. The chorus, “This isn’t easy, this isn’t clear…then confusion and the doubts you had up and walk away—when a heart breaks,” tells it like it is.

“Out of My Head” is a track about being in a situation that just drives you crazy. The chorus shares the sentiment, “I’m out of my head and I’m out of control, I’m out of my mind again and I’m out of regrets and I’m letting you know, I’m letting you go again.”

Another upbeat song on the album is “When I Get There.” It has a more soulful, retro sound than the other tracks, complete with cheeky background vocals and a danceable rhythm.

My personal favorite song on the album is “Moving Backwards,” for which Rector recently filmed a teaser music video. The central line of the song, “Standing still isn’t easy when the world’s moving backwards,” attributes itself to the always-busy lifestyle we all lead and the importance of taking some time just to breathe.

“Into the Morning” is a great album with a variety of sounds and an overall happy feel. For an extra bonus, I urge you to visit Rector’s YouTube page (www.youtube.com/benrector), which features his unique take on Tom Petty’s classic song “Free Fallin’.”