ROBERT C. FULLERTON – AN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT AND INTERVIEW
By Ralph Beauchamp
Robert C. Fullerton is a New England based singer – songwriter who is releasing his new album entitled Something To Say on Feb. 6th via Bigger Beast Records. Fullerton taught himself how to play guitar at 12. Since then, he has played in church settings, was a high school choral director and participated in jazz and rock bands. During the past few years, Robert C. Fullerton has spent time focusing on his songwriting skills. He has released numerous full lengths and EPs in his illustrious career.
Robert C. Fullerton approaches music and sound as environments rather than objects. He shapes experiences that feel inhabited instead of merely heard. Fullerton‘s works invites his listeners to pay close attention to textures, spatial depth and the subtle behavior of sound over time. His music feels like small sonic events that accumulate meaning through inventive aural arrangements. There is an intimate relationship between his listeners and the soundscapes he creates. His goal is to mold musical perception into an active and meditative process.
Another aspect of Robert C. Fullerton‘s songwriting is an interest in how sound interacts with space and musical expansion. By working with minimal gestures and carefully controlled dynamics, Fullerton creates collaborations with his fans in order to widen their auditory horizons. In addition, Robert C. Fullerton reveals the expressive potential of what might otherwise be overlooked in the mix. His use of breath and silence is captivating and showcases his unique style. In doing so, he challenges the conventional expectations of musical authorship and invites his listeners to reconsider sound as a living, situational phenomenon rather than a fixed artistic product.
Robert C. Fullerton will be performing at the Shelter From the Storm benefit concert at the First Congregational Church of Meriden on February 6th produced by Bigger Beast Records / All Boats Rise Entertainment. All proceeds will benefit Neighborhood Promise of Central Connecticut who aid the homeless in our state.
Robert C. Fullerton will also be performing at Cantean Coffee and Tea in Hamden, Ct. on 2/7 with Christina Meadows for his official record release event.
Robert C. Fullerton was kind enough to sit with AMP for this interview.
AMP: Was there a defining moment when you felt you’d truly found your voice as an artist?
ROBERT: There’s not really a specific moment, but a lot changed when I stopped doing gigs that “weren’t me” – ones where I was just background music and playing whatever the crowd or management wanted to hear. It really made a difference when I began doing shows where I could focus on my music, and had the opportunity to interact with the people who were there to hear me where I felt I was being genuine – not just trying to keep someone else happy.
Back in the days of the bar and noisy restaurant gigs, I would find myself frustrated and ready to quit,
thinking nothing I did pleased anyone. Since then, I’ve become more selective about places I perform. I play less shows, but the ones that I do play, the audience, the owners, and I are all much happier.
AMP: What do you focus on the most when preparing for a vocal performance – emotion, technique or storytelling?
ROBERT: Honestly, not really any of those things. The most important thing for me going into a show is to make sure that I’m relaxed; that I’m not bringing outside stress and tension with me. I try to do all that I can to fully focused on the moment of the show. If I am, those other things should fall into place.
AMP: Are there particular themes you feel most drawn to expressing through music?
ROBERT: At any given time, yes, there may be certain topics that are more prominently buzzing around in my mind. However, I don’t think of myself as one of those who only write when “inspired.” Writing is a skill, a craft – something that you work on, and something that you sometimes just sit down and make yourself do. It’s important to write for the sake of writing, to develop your skills.
This means writing about different things. A couple of years ago, I put out a request on social media: “Give me a word or concept, and I’ll write a one-minute song about it.” The things I received ranged from the ridiculous to the sublime: “Pi,” “food,” “running Away,” “mental health issues”… In the end there were eight or ten short songs. One of them, “Runnin’ Away” made its way onto Something To Say.
AMP: Are there genres you feel especially connected to, or ones you’ve enjoyed exploring unexpectedly?
ROBERT: My influences are from a broad range of musical styles. That one-minute song challenge – since the goal was not to write something I’d necessarily record or perform live – also gave me the charge to play with some different styles. For my “serious” writing, I really like songs that involve fingerstyle playing. Elements of jazz, too. I tell people that my music is jazzy, but not jazz; bluesy, but not blues; folky but not folk… You get the idea. If anyone were to listen through a sampling of my music, they’d find all sorts of styles represented, or at least hinted at.
AMP: How do you connect with an audience, especially in more intimate settings?
ROBERT: This goes back to the thing about coming in to a show relaxed. I used to try to be what I thought was very “professional” Now, I’m more casual and want people to feel “at home” – I want to try and bring them into that same relaxed place that I occupy. Humour… I attempt to use humour. Laughter lightens people’s moods. A fair number of my songs are heavy… sad… So, it’s good to have a moment of laughter now and then. Essentially, I kind of want people to feel like we just hung out for a while.
AMP: What’s the most memorable reaction you’ve received from a listener?
ROBERT: There are several that stand out, but one of the most recent and perhaps most powerful was when a woman caught me after a show and said, “That song of yours that you sang about the moon and stars and about missing a woman [“Phantom”]… Was that a true story? Because when you sang it, man, did I feel it!”
AMP: What has been the most challenging part of your journey as an artist?
ROBERT: Hmmmm… Dreams and plans that exceed my resources? The occasional fear that I waited too long, too late? Trying to get noticed when I’m neither flamboyant. outgoing, or pushy?
AMP: If you could perform anywhere with anyone, who and where would it be?
ROBERT: There are a few songwriters out there whose music I truly admire, with whom I’d like to do a songwriter’s round in some informal, relaxed setting: Donovan Woods, Peter Mulvey, Martin Sexton.
Lyle Lovett, who I saw do a show with Shawn Colvin a few years back, where they both just sat on the stage with their guitars, talked to each other and the audience, and sang some tunes. I could dig that. I love his songs and he established such an easy-going rapport with the audience – a 1,700 seat auditorium and he made it feel like you were sitting in his living room with him. Tom Waits – goes without saying. And if John Prine were still around… That would be like Heaven.
AMP: Looking ahead, what do you hope the next chapter of your musical quest looks like?
ROBERT: I underwent open heart surgery – SUCCESSFUL open heart surgery – in December of 2024. I’ve always been fairly driven about my music, but even more so since then. I have another album (Prone To Wander) already recorded, mastered, and waiting in line to be released. I have several songs already written, awaiting their turn to do the dance.
I’m finally doing the kind of shows that I want to do, and want to keep that going. I love being part of Bigger Beast Records – perhaps more accurately the “Bigger Beast Family!” One other thing: Sitting someplace, overhearing someone talking about a song that they heard in a movie, a commercial, or by some artist, and really like. Me” You really like that song, huh? Thank you.”
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