Brian Fuller is making a name for himself as one of the most promising up-and-comers in the Nashville country scene. Both a top-notch songwriter and gifted musician, he’s dropped a steady wave of consistently strong singles over the last seven years. Now, with the release of his latest title, “Tellin’ On You,” he’s on a hot streak, and more people than ever are listening.
The song, which dropped in November, was quickly added to some of the biggest Spotify genre playlists, including New Music Friday Country and Fresh Finds Country (it also made the all-genre New Music Friday playlist). Check the artist box — as a songwriter, Fuller is also celebrating a career-high milestone. This Friday, January 26, he’ll land his first-ever major label artist cut when Randall King drops Into the Neon. The album includes “I Could Be That Rain,” which Fuller co-wrote with Mason Thornley.
By all signs, Fuller is on the rise — but this season of success wasn’t earned overnight. It’s the result of a lifetime of hard work and make-or-break moments. Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, he grew up in a musical family. His mom was a singer in multiple gospel groups, often touring the Southeast to play in churches across the region. Fuller, who started playing piano at age five, credits his grandfather for introducing him to his earliest influences.
“He would drove me to school playing Elvis, Peter Frampton, Eric Johnson Eric Clapton,” he remembers. “It was like a music lesson on the way to school.”
For Fuller, those morning listening sessions ignited a lifelong passion. He started focusing on guitar and playing shows around town.
“I got into it really young. I’ve always played music and known that’s what I wanted to do. I didn’t really have a plan B.”
After high school, he didn’t skip a beat, immediately moving nearly 500 miles north to begin pursuing music seriously in Nashville. Thankfully, he knew fellow country singer Trea Landon, who let Fuller crash on his couch as he started to get his feet on the ground. Through Landon, Fuller met other rising Nashville songwriters like Tyler Chambers, Derek Austin, and Dylan Marlowe.
He got to work writing songs and playing rounds in town — fun fact, his first round was at Frisky Frog’s (now Live Oak). He also started continued releasing original songs. His Nashville debut was “Somewhere in a Small Town,” followed by “Talk of This Town.” These tracks, and his earlier releases, showcase how fully-formed he was even in his early days. Right out the gate, his writing was ace-level and primed for the radio.
“I’ve evolved a lot since then,” he say. “That early music, I liked it, but I knew it wasn’t really me yet. Then I wrote a song called ‘Ran in The Family,’ and loved the honesty of it and being able to tell a true story. I kind of found my lane a little bit better with that song.’”
Over the next two years, Fuller kept going down that same lane, getting better and better at writing honest songs that resonated with him on a personal level. Then, in 2023, he dropped a title that would change his life: “I Could Be That Rain.” The catchy yet emotive anthem was the next level of his distinct sound — in his words: “when I wrote it, I was like, ‘this is me.’”
A few months later, Randall King DM’d Fuller on Instagram inquiring about the song. Two days later, King and his band cut a version of “I Could Be That Rain” and, with Fuller’s blessing, decided to include it on his next album.
Getting a major label cut as an independent songwriter is a massive accomplishment, not to mention highly rare. But for a songwriter like Fuller, who’s spent years honing his craft and evolving his sound, it’s well-earned. It’s an indication of where his career is headed from here and the continued success that undoubtedly waits down the road. Follow Fuller here for more music coming soon, and check out “Tellin’ On You” below. Pre-order Into the Neon here.
Artist credit: Lane Wells