Photo Credit: Daniel Prakopcyk
In the past few years Tucker Pillsbury, the alt-pop singer-songwriter also known as ROLE MODEL, has changed his mindset from anti-love to full-on in love. Still very new to the industry, only five years in, Pillsbury has still made quite an impression. Discovered by the late Mac Miller and signed to Interscope Records in 2018.
Fast forward to this past week, the release of his debut album Rx. A cumulative piece of work Pillsbury has been working on the past two years. Starting out in the pandemic with a $40 mic and a few guitar loops in his parents home in Maine, “It’s been a long time coming,” Pillsbury says. “I held myself to a very high standard with the songwriting on this and I hope people can hear that and dissect the songs however they please.”
An album about love and women, most importantly the power of women. Pillsbury explains, “It’s definitely celebrating women in general and putting them on a pedestal.” Expected from a pop singer, but with Pillsbury it’s different. He gets right to the point, taking vulnerability to a whole new level.
Pillsbury confessed “I fell in love for the first time right when we started the album so obviously that played a huge role in the making of the album.” The love and true power women can hold is undeniably there in bouncy and infatuating tracks like “forever&more,” whimsical-synth track “if jesus saves, she’s my type” and the blunt “die for my bitch.”
Brusque storytelling through music at its finest in tracks like “can you say the same” and “who hurt you” where a true connection is felt as he sings “Maybe we’re broken right from the start // Maybe we’re made for falling apart.” Continuing with the more euphoric, mellow track “save a seat.”
Two tracks easily stand out when listening to the album. The simple, guitar-led “masterbation song,” along with ethereal and empowering “stripclub music,” both undeniably represent the power of women. Some might think risky, but for Pillsbury a much needed narrative saying, “I do think pop music is very safe at the moment and I can’t stand that. There should be no boundaries in songwriting.”
Concluding the album on the feelings of life itself, including love, pain, depression and discovery in “life is funny” and “rx.” Pillsbury revealed, “I started my career off being anti-love, closed-off, and extremely depressed.” He continues saying, “I would hope this album helps them [the fans] understand that they will eventually find someone who’s not only pleasant to be around, but can make you a better person. I had zero hope for myself, but it found its way to me and changed my life.”
Love was the best thing to happen for Pillsbury, opening him up as a person and unraveling the power he has as an artist. Wanting to challenge himself lyrically, he accomplished it, and so much more with each track more diverse than the last.
Now gearing up to venture on his biggest world tour to-date, along with playing both weekends of the infamous Coachella Music Festival. “The people who come to my shows are like my best friends.” At just 24-years-old and only five years into his career, there’s no limitation on what ROLE MODEL can do.
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