More about: Role Model

There’s a new generation of pop taking over, for a fresh, coming-of-age audience. The development of Gen-Z making it commonplace to endeavour to be open about mental health and be true to yourself and has enabled a new genre to blossom and thrive, especially online. Role Model is the latest addition to this strong new wave of artists, who create music from the most candid viewpoints and place real emphasis on human emotion.

Tucker Pillsbury has really capitalised on one of the darkest periods of his life - suffering a life-threatening injury and subsequently being diagnosed with depression - and from this pain has created something very intimately raw and yearning. It’s a powerfully simple track, on which Pillsbury’s strong vocal steps into the spotlight. 

There’s a genuinely earnest quality to his voice, which is drenched in a certain melancholy - it’s as emotionally soul-bearing as it is melodically uplifting, with the propelling piano leads injecting a load of energy into a potentially sombre track, with lyrics that refer to self-doubt and self-reflection, and yearning for reprieve from the weight feeling alone. 

Role Model is an artist possessed by the sun-kissed spirit of his own hometown of Los Angeles. The bedroom-pop sound shines through on ‘hello!’, echoing the likes of Rex Orange County and Clairo, and simultaneously sees him take a step toward a more polished sound, that wouldn’t sound out of place on a LANY record.

The track comes ahead of his forthcoming EP, out later this year via Polydor. Role Model also launches his headlining North American tour on 13 November. Preceded by a performance at LA's Tropicalia Festival, Pillsbury will play 14 dates across the continent including shows in Brooklyn, Boston, and Washington DC, before closing out the year in San Francisco on 12 December.

Grab your copy of the Gigwise print magazine here.

More about: Role Model